ENZYMATIC ANTIOXIDANT DEFENCE MECHANISMS OF MAIZE AND SORGHUM AFTER EXPOSURE TO AND RECOVERY FROM PRE- AND POST-FLOWERING DEHYDRATION

Drought stress is often the most limiting factor for maize and sorghum production in the semi-arid areas. This study evaluates the enzymatic antioxidant protection mechanism response of maize (cv Melkassa-2) and sorghum (cv. Macia) after exposure to and recovery from pre- and post-flowering dehydration.The response of enzymatic antioxidant protection systems revealed that in both test crops dehydration during both the pre- and post-flowering stages resulted in increased activities of enzymatic antioxidant protection mechanisms (SOD, GR, CAT and APX). There were, however, differences between the species in the type and extent of enhanced developmentally-induced and dehydration-induced antioxidant activities. Differences were also noticed in the relative water contents at which changes in enzymatic antioxidant activities occurred. Under dehydration conditions, sorghum was generally found to have relatively higher enzymatic antioxidant activities, providing it better protection against oxidative stress by mi...