Antioxidant Enzymes Activity in the Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Submitted to Drought

Oil palm is a very responsive culture in relation to climate change that intensifies or lowers its productivity. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the activity of antioxidant enzymes in two genotypes of E. guineensis, both under water deficiency. The experiment conducted in a greenhouse at UFRA used genotypes 2528 and 2501 of E. guineensis submitted to water deficiency from the 10th day. The biochemical analysis was evaluated at the 5% level of significance by the Tukey test. The antioxidant variables analyzed were superoxide dismutase, catalase activity, ascorbate peroxidase activity, Malondialdeído (MDA), Glutathione and ascorbic acid content. In view of the obtained results, it was observed increases of the antioxidant enzymes when the genotypes were submitted to the water deficiency, presented significance for the results. Therefore, the study suggests that oil palm had a good use and adaptation when submitted to water deficit and that genotype 2528 was more responsive to maintain its vital biochemical activities.