Meristem tissue from field-grown cotton was monitored under severe water stress and then after irrigation. On a dry weight basis, components that showed statistically significant alterations after irrigation were: iron, manganese, and nickel which decreased, while chlorine, bromine, zinc, and nitrogen levels increased. Taking into account rehydration of tissue (fresh weight basis), increases were observed for phosphorus, bromine, chlorine, zinc, calcium, and nitrogen, with decreases for iron, manganese, nickel, and arsenic.