镉胁迫对萝卜幼苗活性氧产生、脂质过氧化和抗氧化酶活性的影响

镉胁迫使萝卜幼苗超氧阴离子(O2)、过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量增加;随着镉浓度提高,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性首先明显上升,然后逐渐下降,甚至低于对照;叶片过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性明显增加,根系CAT活性则减少;根系以及较高浓度镉处理后期叶片的谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性均显著增加.由此推测:在胁迫初期可能主要由SOD和CAT发挥抗氧化作用,而在胁迫后期由于抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽(AsA-GsH)循环途径的激活,还原型谷胱甘肽和植物络合素含量的提高可能在清除活性氧或者直接螯合镉中起作用.     

美人蕉(Canna indica Linn)镉胁迫的抗氧化机理

采用水培的方式,探讨了不同Cd2+水平(0、1、2.5、7.5、15 mg·L-1)对美人蕉生物量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性以及丙二醛(MDA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)、植物螯合肽(PCs)、酸溶性SH、Cd含量的影响.结果表明,1 mg·L-1的Cd显著提高了美人蕉的生物量(p<0.05),促进了美人蕉的生长.随着Cd2+浓度的提高,SOD、 POD、CAT活性以及MDA含量显著增加(p<0.05),表明美人蕉受到了活性氧物质的胁迫.美人蕉中GSH、PCs、SH含量也随Cd2+含量的增加而增加,表明Cd胁迫诱导了PCs 的产生,有利于降低Cd对植物体本身的毒害,且根系中的含量均高于叶片.美人蕉中Cd含量随着Cd浓度的增加而显著增加,在15 mg·L-1处理时,地上部Cd含量达到555.4 mg·kg-1,表明美人蕉对Cd有较强的富集能力.     

多年生黑麦草抗氧化酶和植物络合素对Cd2+胁迫的应答

采用水培方法研究了5 mg· L-1 Cd2+胁迫下,Cd在多年生黑麦草中的积累和Cd2+对多年生黑麦草抗氧化酶活性和植物络合素等巯基化合物浓度的影响.将具有3片展开叶的多年生黑麦草实生苗转至1/2霍格兰营养液中培养2周后,对其进行5 mg-L-1 Cd2+处理,分别在处理后的0、0.25、1、3、6d取样测定根系和叶片的Cd浓度、抗氧化酶活性和植物络合素等巯基化合物的浓度.结果表明,Cd2+处理多年生黑麦草6d后,根系中Cd浓度达到2.59 mg·g-1,叶片中Cd浓度达到0.24 mg·g-1,根中Cd向叶片的转运系数力0.093,叶中Cd的富集系数为48,多年生黑麦草属Cd高积累植物,具备在植物修复上应用的前景.Cd2+胁迫下,多年生黑麦草根叶中丙二醛(MDA)含量无显著变化,根中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性无显著变化,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)对Cd2+敏感,处理后6d活性较0d显著下降67.19％.Cd2+处理1d内,叶中SOD、APX、CAT活性显著降低.Cd2+处理后3d,叶中的抗氧化酶系统对叶中Cd浓度的升高做出了正反馈,SOD、APX、CAT的活性分别较处理后1d显著上升了14.19％、76,82％、99.26％,Cd2+处理时间延长至6d,SOD活性较处理后3d显著下降了18.58％,APX、CAT活性无显著变化.Cd2+处理后6d,多年生黑麦草根中半胱氨酸(Cys)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)、植物络合素2(PC2)、植物络合素3(PC3)、植物络合素4(PC4)、植物络合素5(PC5)和植物络合素6(PC6)浓度分别较处理0d提高了2.19、1.57、2.06、16.08、5.73、6.03和4.31倍,叶中Cys、GSH、PC2、PC3和PC4浓度分别较处理0d提高了0.69、3.21、1.64、5.73和0.27倍.根中PC3巯基比例最大,叶中GSH的巯基比例最大,二者是根、叶中巯基存在的主要形式.随着Cd2+处理时间的延长,根系和叶片中各巯基化合物的总巯基浓度显著升高,根系和叶片中植物络合素总巯基浓度与Cd浓度显著正相关.多年生黑麦草通过植物络合素等巯基化合物的快速合成降低了根叶中自由Cd2+的比例,保护了根叶中抗氧化酶的活性,间接维持了活性氧代谢的平衡.     

钙抑制剂对机械损伤胁迫下合作杨叶片活性氧代谢的影响

以1年生合作杨扦插苗为材料,研究了叶面喷施Ca2+通道阻断剂氯化镧(LaCl3)和Ca2+螯合剂EGTA预处理对机械损伤胁迫下合作杨叶片抗氧化酶活性、过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量以及氧自由基(O2?-)产生速率的影响.结果显示,与对照相比,机械损伤胁迫下合作杨叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)等抗氧化酶活性均显著升高,活性氧水平和MDA含量显著增加;外源喷施EGTA和LaCl3降低了机械损伤胁迫下叶片SOD、POD、CAT和APX活性,减缓了O2?-产生速率,H2O2含量和MDA含量显著下降;且EGTA的抑制作用比LaCl3更强.研究表明,机械损伤胁迫诱导的活性氧代谢需要Ca2+的参与,Ca2+和活性氧在植物防御信号传递过程中密切相关;伤害诱导胞外Ca2+内流是胞内Ca2+浓度增加的重要来源.     

Cd胁迫对黄菖蒲幼苗4种抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用水培法对Cd胁迫下黄菖蒲（Iris pseudacorus L．）幼苗叶片和根系中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）的活性进行了研究。结果表明,10、40和120mg·L^-1Cd胁迫下,黄菖蒲幼苗叶片和根系中4种酶活性的变化不同。10和40mg·L^-1 cd胁迫下,黄菖蒲幼苗叶片和根系中的POD及APX活性、叶片中的SOD活性及根系中的CAT均明显高于对照;在120mg·L^-1 Cd胁迫下,叶片中的POD活性及根系中的POD和CAT活性均高于对照;各处理组根系中的SOD活性均低于对照。随处理时间的延长,40和120mg·L^-1Cd胁迫处理组叶片的CAT活性和120mg·L^-1Cd胁迫处理组根系的APX活性逐渐降低,其他处理组不同酶的活性逐渐升高或先升后降。黄菖蒲叶片及根系中的4种酶对Cd胁迫的响应能力有差异,其中POD可能是黄菖蒲耐Cd胁迫的主要抗性诱导酶。     

球孢白僵菌在重金属Cd(Ⅱ)作用下抗氧化酶系变化

测定球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana分生孢子在重金属镉Cd(Ⅱ)作用下不同时间段超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)及谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)活性的变化,以探讨球孢白僵菌分生孢子应对重金属胁迫时的生理生化反应。结果表明:Cd(Ⅱ)胁迫初始阶段(2-6 h),球孢白僵菌分生孢子中POD活性出现抑制现象,POD对Cd(Ⅱ)胁迫较敏感。Cd(Ⅱ)胁迫4 h后,GST、SOD、CAT酶活性均显著增加。GST活性在Cd(Ⅱ)胁迫早期酶活变化最为明显,对菌体细胞起到关键的保护作用。后期GST活性较低,因此其保护作用较弱;POD的活性变化则与GST相反,POD在Cd(Ⅱ)胁迫后期对菌体细胞起到关键的保护作用;Cd(Ⅱ)胁迫下,CAT活性稳定且变化不明显但仍高于正常状态下的CAT酶活;SOD始终保持高的酶活性,在这些抗氧化保护酶中,以SOD最为重要。结果表明,抗氧化酶活性的提高与维持是球孢白僵菌耐Cd(Ⅱ)胁迫的重要生理基础。     

镉对克氏原螯虾肝胰腺抗氧化系统的影响

采用毒性试验方法,研究了不同浓度Cd2+(1.72、3.44、6.89、13.77和27.55mg·L-1)对克氏原螯虾肝胰腺抗氧化酶(SOD、CAT、GSH-PX)和抗氧化物质(GSH、Vc)的影响.结果表明:超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性受低浓度Cd2+诱导和高浓度Cd2+抑制,且受抑制程度与Cd2+浓度呈正相关.过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性总体表现为先激活后下降,且在第3天达最大值,CAT活性对低浓度Cd2+(≤6.89 mg·L-1)暴露敏感,而高浓度Cd2+对其影响较小.谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)活性对Cd2+浓度敏感,当Cd2+≤6.89 mg · L-1时,GSH-PX活性先升高后下降,更高浓度下GSH-PX活性在暴露后第1天即表现出抑制作用.还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量在Cd2+≤6.89 mg·L-1时始终被诱导,且均在第1天达最大值,而高浓度Cd2+(≥13.77 mg·L-1)对GSH含量影响不明显.维生素C(Vc)对Cd2+胁迫敏感,各处理组Vc含量在第1天均显著下降,且下降程度与Cd2+浓度呈正相关,之后具有一定的合成恢复能力.抗氧化酶和非酶抗氧化物质在抵御Cd2+胁迫反应中共同发挥作用,且大多表现出明显的时间和剂量效应性.GSH-PX和Vc可以作为Cd2+污染的潜在生物指示物.     

Spd浸种对盐胁迫下番茄（Solanum lycopersicum)幼苗的保护效应

通过水培试验,研究了100 mmol/L NaCl盐浓度下,0.25 mmol/L Spd浸种处理对两个番茄品种白果强丰(耐盐基因型)和江蔬14号(盐敏感基因型)植株干重、根冠比(R/T)、幼苗叶片和根系抗氧化酶活性及活性氧含量的影响.具体试验处理如下:(a) 对照(蒸馏水浸种+ 0 mmol/L NaCl),(b) NaCl (蒸馏水浸种+ 100 mmol/L NaCl),(c) Spd(0.25 mmol/L Spd浸种 +100 mmol/L NaCl).结果表明,在盐胁迫下,两个番茄品种幼苗叶片和根系内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性升高,H2O2含量和O·-2产生速率增高,幼苗生长受到抑制,幼苗地上部、地下部干重均明显低于对照,R/T增大,且江蔬14号的变化幅度大于白果强丰.Spd浸种处理降低了盐胁迫下番茄幼苗叶片和根系内O·-2产生速率和H2O2含量,进一步提高了SOD、POD和CAT活性,促进幼苗干重增加,缓解了盐胁迫对植株的伤害.与耐盐基因型番茄品种白果强丰相比,Spd浸种处理对盐敏感基因型番茄品种江蔬14号的作用效果更为明显.总之,Spd浸种处理通过提高盐胁迫下植株体内抗氧化酶活性,降低ROS水平来缓解盐胁迫对番茄幼苗的伤害,提高幼苗耐盐能力.     

镉胁迫对旱柳细胞膜透性和抗氧化酶活性的影响

以‘Fuyang 3’旱柳为材料,通过水培方法研究了中、高剂量(5、25μmol.L-1)镉胁迫下旱柳器官的镉(Cd2 )积累、叶和根细胞膜渗透及抗氧化酶活性的变化。结果表明:Cd2 主要积累在旱柳的根部(最高达1 297.71μg.g-1),其次是枝条(最高为163.13μg.g-1)。中、高剂量Cd2 胁迫下,旱柳叶相对电导率、根K 渗透以及根和叶丙二醛(MDA)含量均未发生显著变化。中、高剂量Cd2 胁迫使旱柳根系的超氧歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)活性,以及叶片的SOD、愈创木酚过氧化酶(POD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)和GST活性均比对照显著增强;且高剂量胁迫旱柳根系的SOD和GST活性,及其叶片的POD、GPX和GST活性均显著高于相应中剂量胁迫。研究发现,旱柳在不同浓度镉胁迫条件下,其根是Cd2 主要积累器官,其叶和根细胞质膜能保持相对稳定性,其根和叶各抗氧化酶活性发生不同程度改变,从而使旱柳对Cd2 胁迫表现出一定的忍耐性。     

药用红花幼苗对盐胁迫的生理响应机制

以红花为材料,研究了不同浓度NaCl(0、50、100和150 mmol·L-1)胁迫对红花幼苗叶片中的可溶性糖(SS)、可溶性蛋白(SP)及抗氧化酶系(T-AOC、SOD、CAT)的影响。结果表明:盐分对红花幼苗生长的抑制作用随NaCl浓度增加而加剧,且对地上部分的抑制作用大于根部。胁迫初期(10 d),各处理红花幼苗中的T-AOC的活性没有明显变化;但高盐胁迫显著提高了CAT的活性。与对照相比,盐胁迫明显提高了红花中的SS、SP的含量及SOD的活性,但各盐处理之间没有明显差异。胁迫中期(20 d),各处理间SOD的活性无明显变化;SS的含量随盐浓度的增加而明显增加,且处理间差异显著;SP的含量和CAT、T-AOC的活性与对照相比均有所增加。盐胁迫后期(30 d),SP和SS的含量在叶片中有积累的趋势,但T-AOC和SOD却相反,其活性较对照处理均有所下降,而盐处理的CAT的活性较对照处理无明显差异。因此,供试红花幼苗在盐胁迫初期主要是通过合成渗透调节物质和活性氧清除机制共同作用来抵御盐分胁迫,随着胁迫时间的延长则主要通过合成渗透调节物质来抵御盐害,其中可溶性糖对盐浓度的响应起到关键作用。     

外源钙对镉胁迫下南美蟛蜞菊毛状根生长、抗氧化酶活性和镉吸收的缓解效应

为了探讨外源钙对重金属镉(Cd)缓解南美蟛蜞菊Wedelia trilobata毛状根毒害的生理机理,采用溶液培养法研究了重金属Cd单独及其与Ca组合对南美蟛蜞菊毛状根生长、抗氧化酶超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性及对Cd2+吸收的影响。结果表明,Cd≤50μmol/L时促进毛状根生长;高于100μmol/LCd则抑制其生长,使其侧根短小,根尖变褐或变黑。与对照相比,不同浓度Cd培养的毛状根POD活性、SOD活性和MDA含量都比对照明显提高,但高于100μmol/L Cd培养的毛状根可溶性蛋白含量均比对照降低。与仅添加200μmol/L或300μmol/L Cd的毛状根相比,Cd和10~30 mmol/L Ca组合培养可促进毛状根生长,使其主、侧根变粗;提高其可溶性蛋白含量;降低其MDA含量、POD活性及SOD活性。原子吸收分光光度法测定结果表明,南美蟛蜞菊毛状根能吸收和吸附重金属Cd2+,当Cd2+浓度为100μmol/L时毛状根对Cd2+的吸收量最大,而Cd2+浓度为300μmol/L时毛状根对Cd2+的吸附量最大。外源加入10~30 mmol/L Ca2+可显著减少毛状根对Cd2+的吸收和吸附,并可调节其抗氧化酶活性,降低其膜脂过氧化水平而解除重金属镉对毛状根生长的抑制或毒害。     

渗透胁迫对黑麦幼苗活性氧和抗氧化酶活性的影响

用20%聚乙二醇(PEG 6000)研究了渗透胁迫对黑麦(Secale cereale L.)幼苗活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)和主要抗氧化酶—— 超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase, SOD)、过氧化氢酶(catalase, CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(ascorbate peroxidase, APX)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(glutathione reductase, GR)活性的影响。结果表明, 与对照相比, PEG处理明显提高了叶子和根中丙二醛(malondialdehyde, MDA)的含量、ROS的水平和以上4种抗氧化酶的活性。渗透胁迫下,叶子和根中MDA和ROS水平变化的规律基本相似, 但抗氧化酶活性在2种器官中表现不完全相同, 叶子中CAT的活性在对照和处理中无显著差异, 但在根中差异明显, 表明叶子中SOD、APX和GR在植物应答渗透胁迫中起重要作用, 而根中这4种抗氧化酶都参与植物对胁迫的反应。GR活性随PEG处理变化幅度显著高于其它抗氧化酶, 表明GR在黑麦应答渗透胁迫中所起作用可能强于其它抗氧化酶。     

镉对长江华溪蟹肝胰腺抗氧化酶活力的影响

重金属对环境的污染已成为全球面临的首要问题之一,其中镉(Cd2 )是一种广泛存在的毒性污染物,能通过消化道和呼吸道进入生物体,对机体造成损伤(Zyadah and Abdel-Baky,2000)。研究表明,Cd2 可以通过Ca2 通道穿过细胞膜进入机体(Roesijadi and Robinson,1994),诱导产生大量自由基和活性氧(ROS),从而形成氧胁迫(Toppi andGabbrielli,1994;Hegedus et al.,2001)。ROS可以与体内脂质、蛋白质和核酸反应,导致脂质过氧化、细胞膜损伤并且影响多种酶的活力,对生物体造成威胁。由于在水生生态系统中生物富集污染物的作用明显,故相对于陆地生…     

Effects of Exogenous Spermidine on Antioxidant System Responses of Typha latifolia L. Under Cd2+ Stress

The effects of foliar spraying with spermidine (Spd), ranging in concentration from 0.25 to 0.50mmol/L, on the antioxidant system under Cd2 stress (range 0.1- 0.2 mmol/L Cd2 ) in Typha latifolia L.grown hydroponically were investigated in order to offer a referenced evidence for an understanding of the mechanism by which polyamines (PAs) relieve the damage to plants by heavy metal and improve the phytoremediation efficiency of heavy metal-contaminated water. The results showed that Cd2 stress inhydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in both leaves and caudices. With theexception of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the leaves, an increase in the activities of catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR) was observed in both leaves and caudices,SOD activity was increased in caudices, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity was increased in leaves following Cd2 treatment. The reduced glutathione (GSH) content in both leaves and caudices and the reductive ascorbate content in leaves was obviously increased, which were prompted by the application of exogenous Spd. Spraying with Spd increased the activity of GR and APX in both leaves and caudices,whereas the activity of SOD, CAT, and GPX was increased only in caudices following spraying with Spd.with Spd. The decrease in MDA was more obvious following the application of 0.25 than 0.50 mmol/L Spd.It is supposed that exogenous Spd elevated the tolerance of T. latifolia under Cd2 stress primarily by increasing GR activity and the GSH level.     

Cadmium-induced changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L. cv. Dongjin)

We studied how the relationship between cadmium (Cd) toxicity and oxidative stress influenced the growth, photosynthetic efficiency, lipid peroxidation, and activity of ntioxidative enzymes in the roots and leaves of rice(Oryza sativa L Dongjin). Plants were exposed to Cd for 21 d. Both seedling growth and photosynthetic efficiency decreased gradually with increasing cadmium concentrations. Lipid peroxidation increased slowly in both roots and leaves, causing oxidative stress. However, each tissue type responded differently to Cd concentrations with regard to the induction/ inhibition of antioxidative enzymes. The activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased in both roots and leaves. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity increased in leaves treated with up to 0.25 μM Cd, then decreased gradually at higher concentrations. In contrast, APX activity in roots increased and remained constant between 0.25 and 25 μM Cd. Enhanced peroxidase (POD) activity was recorded for treatments with up to 25/M Cd, gradually decreasing at higher concentrations in the leaves but remaining unchanged in the roots. Catalase (CAT) activity increased in the roots, but decreased in the leaves, whereas the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) was enhanced in both roots and leaves, where it remained elevated at higher Cd concentrations. These results suggest that rice seedlings tend to cope with free radicals generated by Cd through coordinated, enhanced activities of the antioxidative enzymes involved in detoxification.     

Response of antioxidant enzymes in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sauva</Emphasis> L. cv. Dongjin) under mercury stress

We studied the effects of different concentrations of mercury (0.0 to 100 μM) on growth and photosynthetic efficiency in rice plants treated for 21 d. In addition, we investigated how this metal affected the malondialdehyde (MDA) content as well as the activity of five antioxidant enzymes — superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Photosynthetic efficiency (Fμ/F_m) and seedling growth decreased as the concentration of Hg was increased in the growth media. Plants also responded to Hg-induced oxidative stress by changing the levels of their antioxidative enzymes. Enhanced lipid peroxidation was observed in both leaves and roots that had been exposed to oxidative stress, with leaves showing higher enzymatic activity. Both SOD and APX activities increased in treatments with up to 50 μM Hg, then decreased at higher concentrations. In the leaves, both CAT and POD activities increased gradually, with CAT levels decreasing at higher concentrations. In the roots, however, CAT activity remained unchanged while that of POD increased a bit more than did the control for concentrations of up to 10 μM Hg. At higher Hg levels, both CAT and POD activities decreased. GR activity increased in leaves exposed to no more than 0.25 μM Hg, then decreased gradually. In contrast, its activity was greatly inhibited in the roots. Based on these results, we suggest that when rice plants are exposed to different concentrations of mercury, their antioxidative enzymes become involved in defense mechanisms against the free radicals that are induced by this stress.     

外源脱落酸对小麦幼苗抗镉胁迫能力的影响

以小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)为试材,采用水培法研究了100mg/L镉(Cd2+)胁迫条件下施用外源脱落酸(ABA)对小麦幼苗生长及某些生理生化指标的影响。结果表明:(1)100mg/L Cd2+胁迫下,小麦叶片膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量显著提高,植株生长受到抑制;(2)外源ABA能够明显提高Cd2+胁迫小麦幼苗的根系活力,增加其叶片SOD、CAT和POD活性,促进其脯氨酸积累,降低MDA的含量,并以5.0μmol/L ABA的效果最明显;(3)1.0～5.0μmol/L外源ABA不同程度地缓解Cd2+胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制作用,且5.0μmol/L时效果最明显,其株高、根长、总干重分别比单一Cd2+胁迫处理显著提高6.73%、149%和10.52%,而10.0μmol/LABA反而加重了Cd2+对小麦幼苗生长的伤害。因此,适宜浓度的外源ABA能够通过增加体内保护酶活性和脯氨酸含量来缓解Cd2+胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制作用,增强小麦幼苗的抗Cd2+胁迫能力,并以5.0μmol/L ABA处理效果最好。     

Differential antioxidative responses to cadmium in roots and leaves of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Azad).

Pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Azad) plants exposed to 4 and 40 microM of Cd for 7 d in hydroponic culture were analysed with reference to the distribution of metal, the accumulation of biomass and the metal's effects on antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes in roots and leaves. Cd-induced a decrease in plant biomass. The maximum accumulation of Cd occurred in roots followed by stems and leaves. An enhanced level of lipid peroxidation and an increased tissue concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in both roots and leaves indicated that Cd caused oxidative stress in pea plants. Roots and leaves of pea plants responded differently to Cd with reference to the induction of enhanced activities of most of the enzymes monitored in the present study. These differential responses to Cd were further found to be associated with levels of Cd to which the plants were exposed. Cd-induced enhancement in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was more at 40 microM than at 4 microM in leaves. While catalase (CAT) prominently increased in leaves both at 4 and 40 microM Cd, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) showed maximum stimulation at 40 microM Cd in roots. Enhancement in glutathione reductase (GR) activity was also more at 40 microM than at 4 microM Cd in roots. While glutathione peroxidase (GPOX) activity decreased in roots and remained almost unmodified in leaves, glutathione S-transferase (GST) showed pronounced stimulation in both roots and leaves of pea plants exposed to 40 microM Cd. Increased activities of antioxidative enzymes in Cd-treated plants suggest that they have some additive function in the mechanism of metal tolerance in pea plants.