The influence of zinc and selenium on some biochemical responses of Vigna unguiculata and Zea mays to water deficit condition and rehydration

The influence of zinc and selenium on some biochemical responses (lipid peroxidation, ascorbate, glutathione, growth rate, mineral content, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities) of cowpea and maize seedlings to water deficit condition and rehydration were investigated. Plants seedlings were exposed to water deficit condition for 14 days. The relative water content in whole plant tissues was reduced from 78.6% (control) to 50.0% (water deficit) and 70.1% (control) to 37.3% (water deficit) for cowpea and maize samples respectively. Selenium-treated samples showed higher RWC values for both normal and water deficit samples. Under water deficit conditions, general increase in the levels of the biochemical parameters was recorded. Effects of water deficit were more pronounced on the maize samples than cowpea. At P