To perform a comparative analysis of the physiological, biochemical and agronomical parameters of durum wheat cultivars (Triticum durum Desf.) under water-deficit conditions, five cultivars were grown under irrigated (control) and rainfall (stressed) conditions. Different agro-physiological and biochemical parameters were studied: electrolyte leakage, relative water content, chlorophyll fluorescence, proline, soluble sugars and specific peroxidase activity