Quinoa in Italy: research and perspectives

An increasing number of studies have been performed in recent years in Italy on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). Interest in this Andean seed crop is mainly due to its resistance to the abiotic stresses affecting Mediterranean agro-ecosystems, in particular drought and salinity, and to the high nutritional value of its seeds. The principal research activities in Italy currently focus on the agronomic, biological and nutritional aspects of quinoa. Several field trials were carried out at CNR-ISAFoM in Ercolano (Napoli) to evaluate, in terms of growth, yield and physiological aspects, the adaptability of quinoa to Italian pedoclimatic conditions, and the crop’s response to different agronomic management practices. Post-harvest chemical and product analyses were also performed to evaluate seed quality and aptitude for food processing. Quinoa’s tolerance to salinity stress was investigated under controlled environmental conditions at the University of Bologna, where morphological and metabolic responses were analysed. All of these studies were conducted within national and international research projects with the collaboration of foreign research centres (CEAZA, Chile) and universities (University of Copenhagen), mainly using plant material selected in Denmark or sourced from the Andean region. This chapter describes the results of the main research activities carried out in the last decade by Italian institutions and discusses the potential for the introduction of quinoa cultivation in Italian cropping systems.