3.2 Seed mineral elements
Obtained data from the CHNS analyzer showed that water deficit reduced
the content of carbon, sulphur, and hydrogen. This reduction arranged
from 57% to 54.19, from 0.047 to 0.004 and from 0.304 to 0.247 for C,
S, and H respectively. However, the decrease of H concentration was
relatively small and no significant. The results of Table 3 showed that
a decrease of C concentration considered with the increase of N
concentration under water stress. The highest variation of C and N
concentration by -4.7% and +27.6 % respectively was in B1D1 in
comparison with the control (Table 3). Compared to the relatively low
variation C: N ratio, N: S ratio was very high. Insofar as, the highest
decrease C: N (by 1.3 fold) considered with the highest increase N: S
(by 8.5 fold) in B1D1 (Table 3). In Fig 2A, B was detected a positive
correlation between oil content and C: N and a negative correlation
between C: N ratio with protein. A significant increase was observed in
P concentration with water stress and PGPB treatment (Table 3). The
highest P content was related to B1D1 (up to 2 fold) in comparison with
control (Table 3). The effect of water deficit and PGPB on
micronutrients (Fe, Zn, and Mn) were displayed in (Table 3). The
enhancement of Fe and Zn concentration in mild water deficit stress were
considerable in inoculated (by 2.5, and 1.5 fold respectively) beside
non-inoculated plants (1.9 and 1.2 fold). At all drought levels,
enhancement of the micronutrients concentration was higher in inoculated
plants than no- inoculated plants