A prerequisite for sustainable saline agriculture of cash crop halophytes in salt affected areas implies exact knowledge of their limits of salinity resistance. Hence, the first part of this study was carried out in pot experiment under greenhouse conditions to evaluate growth and seed yield of C. quinoa Willd. cv. Hualhuas to varying water salinity levels (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mM NaCl). The limit of salinity resistance was estimated at 200 mM NaCl (~20 dSm -1 ) based on seed yield production. Depending on the results obtained from pot experiment, field trials were conducted in saline soil location (ECe 17.9 dSm -1 ) and in non-saline soil location (ECe 1.9 dSm -1 ). Seed yield significantly decreased under saline soil by about 61.7% . Beside quantity, soil salinity led to reduce the percentage of moisture, total carbohydrate and total fat contents in seeds. Salinity did not significantly alter the protein content in quinoa seeds. Significant increases in the content of ash and fiber were detected in response to high soil salinity. The high er ash content in seeds under saline conditions was due to the increase of Na + as well as K + , P 3-and Fe ++ concentrations. By contrast, soil salinity led to significant decrease of Ca ++ and Zn ++ contents in seed. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed that most of Na + in the seeds produced at saline soil was mainly accumulated in the pericarp followed by embryo tissues, while, the interior reserving tissue (perisperm) exhibiting comparatively low concentration. Increasing most of essential minerals, especially Fe, in quino a seeds produced under high saline conditions given quinoa a distinctive value for human consumption. Quinoa can be grown and yielded successfully in salt-affected soils (ECe 17.9 dSm -1 ), where, most if not all of traditional crops cannot grow, although the yield was reduced however, the seed quality was not highly affected.

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Quinoa may be a promising alternative solution for arid regions, and it is necessary to test yield and mineral accumulation in grains under different soil types. Field experiments with Chenopodium quinoa (cv. CICA-17) were performed in Egypt in non-saline (electrical conductivity, 1.9 dS m−1) and saline (20 dS m−1) soils. Thirty-four chemical elements were studied in these crops. Results show different yields and mineral accumulations in the grains. Potassium (K), P, Mg, Ca, Na, Mn, and Fe are the main elements occurring in the quinoa grains, but their concentrations change between both soil types. Besides, soil salinity induced changes in the mineral pattern distribution among the different grain organs. Sodium was detected in the pericarp but not in other tissues. Pericarp structure may be a shield to prevent sodium entry to the underlying tissues but not for chloride, increasing its content in saline conditions. Under saline conditions, yield decreased to near 47%, and grain sizes greater than 1.68 mm were unfavored. Quinoa may serve as a complementary crop in the marginal lands of Egypt. It has an excellent nutrition perspective due to its mineral content and has a high potential to adapt to semi-arid and arid environments.

The present work was aimed to evaluate Chenopodium quinoa cultivar CICA (Chenopodium quinoa Willd. cv. CICA), in field experiments, as a new and non-traditional leafy crop in Egypt under saline (ECe 17.9 dSm-1) and non-saline (ECe 1.9 dSm-1) soil conditions. Production of biomass, some morphological, physiochemical and yield components traits were estimated at 40 days from sowing date. Biomass production of young quinoa shoot under saline soil was significantly higher by 25% than non-saline soil. Quinoa plants cultivated under saline soil also showed significant high performances for most of morphological traits. Although salinity led to accumulate Na + concentrations in the leaves by six folds higher than that found in the leaves produced under non-saline soil conditions, but no significant reduction has been observed for K + concentrations. Moreover, salinity was significantly increased magnesium concentrations in quinoa leaves. On the other hand, no significant increase has been detected of proline or total soluble carbohydrates concentrations in leaves of quinoa grown under saline soil as compared to non-saline soil. This clearly indicated that quinoa plants, during early growth stage, tended to utilize inorganic ions rather than organic solutes to regulate its osmotic potential under saline conditions. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid concentrations were significantly decreased under saline soil. Also, concentrations of crude fiber, crude fat and iron in the leaves of quinoa plants grown under saline soil conditions were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, salinity has no significant influence on crude protein concentrations. These results revealed that the quinoa has the ability to grow and produce considerable high leafy vegetable yield with good quality, in terms of high protein, in land unsuitable for conventional vegetable crops.

Background Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a facultative halophyte showing various mechanisms of salt resistance among different ecotype cultivars. This study aimed to determine salt resistance limits for a Peruvian sea level ecotype “Hualhuas” and a Bolivian salar ecotype “Real” and elucidate individual mechanisms conferring differences in salt resistance between these cultivars. The plants were grown in sandy soil and irrigated with various saline solutions concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mM NaCl) under controlled conditions. Results High salinity treatment (500 mM NaCl) reduced the plant growth by 80% and 87% in Hualhuas and Real cultivars, respectively. EC50 (water salinity which reduces the maximum yield by 50%) was at a salinity of 300 mM NaCl for Hualhuas and between 100 and 200 mM NaCl for Real plants. Both cultivars were able to lower the osmotic potential of all organs due to substantial Na+ accumulation. However, Hualhuas plants exhibited distinctly lower Na+ contents and consequently a higher K+/Na+ ratio compared to Real plants, suggesting a more efficient control mechanism for Na+ loading and better K+ retention in Hualhuas plants. Net CO2 assimilation rates (Anet) were reduced, being only 22.4% and 36.2% of the control values in Hualhuas and Real, respectively, at the highest salt concentration. At this salinity level, Hualhuas plants showed lower stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rates (E), but higher photosynthetic water use efficiency (PWUE), indicative of an efficient control mechanism over the whole gas-exchange machinery. Conclusion These results reveal that Hualhuas is a promising candidate in terms of salt resistance and biomass production compared to Real.