L. sativa would be more suitable than B. oleracea for growing in soils with low Zn availability.
NO3− reduction and NH4+ assimilation are reduced and photorespiration is enhanced by Zn deficiency in both species studied.
Zn deficiency changed the free AAs profile in both species studied.
Gly accumulation could help L. sativa plants to accumulate more Zn in deficiency conditions.
B. oleracea is able to accumulate N derived protective compounds to cope with Zn deficiency stress.