Sensitive Tolerant Parameter BRS1010 2B710 DKB 390 BRS1055   FC WD FC WD FC WD FC WD NRubisco 37,57bA 29,58aB 53,84aA 33,30aB 40,44bA 30,97aB 54,25aA 37,21aB NPEPc 0,410bA 0,140aB 0,630aA 0,170aB 0,470bA 0,160aB 0,690aA 0,200aB NPPDK 2,110bA 0,720aB 3,240aA 0,860aB 2,410bA 0,840aB 3,530aA 1,010aB Nb 1,250bA 0,780aB 1,840aA 0,890aB 1,380bA 0,830aB 1,910aA 1,000aB Ni 8,920aA 8,820bA 6,650bA 5,290cA 4,500cA 4,760cA 8,990aB 12,74aA Nt 50,25bA 40,05bB 66,20aA 40,50bB 49,20bA 37,56bB 69,37aA 52,16aB

Abreviatures: Nitrogen investments in carboxylation enzymes (Rubisco- NRubisco, Phosphoenolpyruvate- NPEPc and Pyruvate Orthophosphate Dicinase- NPPDK), light harvesting (Ni), bioenergetics (Nb) and total (Nt). Means followed by the same letter are not statistically different from each other. Lowercase letters denote comparisons between genotypes within the same water level soil, and uppercase letters denote comparisons between the water levels in the soil within the same genotype. Means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5 % probability.

Table 2: Nitrogen partitioning within the photosynthetic machynary in four maize genotypes with contrasting characteristics for drought tolerance (BRS1010 and 2B710 - sensitive; DKB390 and BRS1055 - tolerant) grown under different water contents in the soil (field capacity - FC, and water deficit - WD) (n=6).