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。     

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.     

Comparative study of alleviating effects of GSH, Se and Zn under combined contamination of cadmium and chromium in rice (Oryza sativa)

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the ameliorative effects of separate or combined application of exogenous glutathione (GSH), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) upon 20 μM cadmium (Cd) plus 20 μM chromium (Cr) heavy metal stress (HM) in rice seedlings. The results showed that HM caused a marked reduction in seedling height, chlorophyll content (SPAD) and biomass, and activities of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in leaves and H⁺-ATPase in roots/leaves, but elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) activities in leaves with elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation both in leaves and roots over the control. The best mitigation effect was recorded in HM+GSH+Zn and HM+GSH (addition of GSH+Zn and GSH to HM solution), which greatly alleviated HM-induced growth inhibition and oxidative stress. Compared with HM alone, HM+GSH and HM+GSH+Zn markedly reduced Cr uptake and translocation but not affected Cd concentration; improved H⁺-ATPase activity and Fe, Zn, Mn uptake and translocation, and repressed MDA accumulation. Meanwhile exogenous GSH and GSH+Zn counteracted HM-induced response of antioxidant enzymes, via suppressing HM-induced dramatic increase of root/leaf SOD and leaf POD activities, and elevating stress-depressed leaf APX and leaf/root CAT activities.     

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.     

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。     

近地层臭氧对小麦抗氧化酶活性变化动态的影响

摘要:利用开顶式气室（TOCs）模拟了地表O3浓度升高的大田试验条件,测定了小麦各生长期(返青期、拔节期、孕穗期、抽穗期、灌浆期、成熟期)叶片抗氧化酶的活性。通过两年的重复试验,得到相似结果。试验表明,过氧化氢酶（CAT）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性在小麦的生长进程中,先升高后降低。O3浓度升高使CAT酶和POD酶活性的峰值期提前,POD酶峰值期明显提前所需的O3浓度比CAT酶高,O3诱导小麦生长前期的CAT、POD酶活性升高,后期则起抑制作用。POD酶对低浓度O3的胁迫响应时间较晚。当O3浓度提高到150 nL?L-1时,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性随小麦生长期的变化,由原来的双峰曲线变为单峰曲线,高浓度O3使SOD酶活性在抽穗期后持续显著降低。O3不明显改变抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）对胁迫的响应时间,但一定浓度范围内O3能诱导APX酶活性升高。不同浓度的O3对SOD酶和APX酶的作用效应和强度显著不同, CAT酶和POD酶对O3比较敏感。 因此,近地层O3浓度增加,改变了CAT、POD和SOD酶活性变化的时序特征,抗氧化酶对O3胁迫的响应特征取决于小麦的生育期、O3的浓度和薰气时间。     

Genotype-Dependent Effect of Exogenous Nitric Oxide on Cd-induced Changes in Antioxidative Metabolism, Ultrastructure, and Photosynthetic Performance in Barley Seedlings (Hordeum vulgare)

A greenhouse hydroponic experiment was performed using Cd-sensitive (cv. Dong 17) and Cd-tolerant (Weisuobuzhi) barley seedlings to evaluate how different genotypes responded to cadmium (Cd) toxicity in the presence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor. Results showed that 5 μM Cd increased the accumulation of O₂^•−, H₂O₂, and malondialdehyde (MDA) but reduced plant height, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (P _n), and biomass, with a much more severe response in the Cd-sensitive genotype. Antioxidant enzyme activities increased significantly under Cd stress in the roots of the tolerant genotype, whereas in leaves of the sensitive genotype, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxide (APX), especially cytosol ascorbate peroxidase (cAPX), decreased after 5–15 days Cd exposure. Moreover, Cd induces NO synthesis by stimulating nitrate reductase and nitric oxide synthetase-like enzymes in roots/leaves. A Cd-induced NO transient increase in roots of the Cd-tolerant genotype might partly contribute to its Cd tolerance. Exogenous NO dramatically alleviated Cd toxicity, markedly diminished Cd-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA accumulation, ameliorated Cd-induced damage to leaf/root ultrastructure, and increased chlorophyll content and P _n. External NO counteracted the pattern of alterations in certain antioxidant enzymes induced by Cd; for example, it significantly elevated the depressed SOD, APX, and catalase (CAT) activities in the Cd-sensitive genotype after 10- and 15-day treatments. Furthermore, NO significantly increased stromal APX and Mn-SOD activities in both genotypes and upregulated Cd-induced decrease in cAPX activity and gene expression of root/leaf cAPX and leaf CAT1 in the Cd-sensitive genotype. These data suggest that under Cd stress, NO, as a potent antioxidant, protects barley seedlings against oxidative damage by directly and indirectly scavenging ROS and helps to maintain stability and integrity of the subcellular structure.     

Cadmium toxicity affects chlorophyll a and b content,antioxidant enzyme activities and mineral nutrient accumulation in strawberry

Background

Cadmium (Cd) is well known as one of the most toxic metals affecting the environment and can severely restrict plant growth and development. In this study, Cd toxicities were studied in strawberry cv. Camarosa using pot experiment. Chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities and mineral nutrient concentrations were investigated in both roots and leaves of strawberry plant after exposure Cd.

Results

Cd content in both roots and leaves was increased with the application of increasing concentrations of Cd. We found higher Cd concentration in roots rather than in leaves. Chlorophyll a and b was decreased in leaves but MDA significantly increased under increased Cd concentration treatments in both roots and leaves. SOD and CAT activities was also increased with the increase Cd concentrations. K, Mn and Mg concentrations were found higher in leaves than roots under Cd stress. In general, increased Cd treatments increased K, Mg, Fe, Ca, Cu and Zn concentration in both roots and leaves. Excessive Cd treatments reduced chlorophyll contents, increased antioxidant enzyme activities and changes in plant nutrition concentrations in both roots and leaves.

Conclusion

The results presented in this work suggested that Cd treatments have negative effect on chlorophyll content and nearly decreased 30% of plant growth in strawberry. Strawberry roots accumulated higher Cd than leaves. We found that MDA and antioxidant enzyme (CAT, SOD and APX) contents may have considered a good indicator in determining Cd tolerance in strawberry plant.     

The effect of NaCl on antioxidant enzyme activities in potato seedlings

The effect of NaCl on the growth and activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were investigated in the seedlings of four potato cultivars (Agria, Kennebec; relatively salt tolerant, Diamant and Ajax; relatively salt sensitive). The shoot fresh mass of Agria and Kennebec did not changed at 50 mM NaCl, whereas in Diamant and Ajax it decreased to 50 % of that in the controls. In Agria and Kennebec, SOD activity increased at 50 mM NaCl, but no significant changes observed in Diamant and Ajax. At higher NaCl concentration, SOD activity reduced in all cultivars. CAT and POD activities increased in all cultivars under salt stress. Unlike the other cultivars, in Ajax seedlings, APX activity increased in response to NaCl stress. We also observed new POD and SOD isoenzyme activities and changes in isoenzyme compositions under salt stress. These results suggest that salt-tolerant potato cultivars may have a better protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (especially SOD) under salt stress.     

Differential biochemical responses of wheat shoots and roots to nickel stress: antioxidative reactions and proline accumulation

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. ‘Zyta’) seedlings were treated with 10, 100 and 200 μM Ni. Tissue Ni accumulation, length, relative water content (RWC), proline and H₂O₂ concentrations as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (POD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were studied in the shoots and roots after 6 days of Ni exposure. Treatment with Ni, except for its lowest concentration, resulted in a significant reduction in wheat growth. In comparison to the shoots, the roots showed greater inhibition of elongation, which corresponded with higher accumulation of Ni in these organs. Both shoots and roots responded to Ni application with a decrease in RWC and enhancement in proline concentration. Greater dehydration of the shoot tissue was accompanied by more intense accumulation of proline. Treatment of the wheat seedlings with the highest concentration of Ni led to about 60% increase in H₂O₂ concentration in both studied organs. Apart from CAT, constitutive activities of antioxidative enzymes were much higher in the roots than in the shoots. Exposure of the seedlings to Ni resulted in SOD activity decline, which was more marked in the roots. While the shoots showed a substantial decrease (up to 30%) in CAT activity, in the roots the activity of this enzyme remained unchanged. After Ni application APX, POD and GST activities increased several-fold in the shoots, whereas in the roots they were not significantly altered. The results suggest that differential antioxidative responses of the shoots and roots of wheat seedlings to Ni stress might be related to diverse constitutive levels of antioxidant enzyme activities in both organs.     

Cd~(2+)胁迫对小桐子幼苗叶片抗氧化系统的影响

以小桐子幼苗为材料,设置不同浓度CdCl_2处理,测定Cd~(2+)胁迫对小桐子幼苗叶片中可溶性蛋白、丙二醛(MDA)含量,以及5种抗氧化酶活性和2种抗氧化剂含量的变化,探讨镉胁迫对小桐子幼苗抗氧化系统的影响。结果表明:(1)Cd~(2+)胁迫导致小桐子幼苗叶片中可溶性蛋白含量降低、MDA含量增加;(2)随着镉胁迫时间的延长,幼苗叶片中愈创木酚过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸专一性过氧化酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)等抗氧化酶活性表现出先升高然后降低的变化趋势;(3)幼苗叶片中还原型抗坏血酸(ASA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量随着胁迫时间延长而降低,但其中氧化型抗坏血酸(DHA)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量则升高。研究表明,镉胁迫初期能诱导小桐子幼苗抗氧化系统活性显著增强,提高其抗氧化能力,但随着胁迫时间的延长,致使其抗氧化酶的活性和抗氧物质含量下降,植株遭受明显氧化胁迫,幼苗生长受到镉的严重毒害。     

Antioxidant responses of halophyte plant Aeluropus littoralis under long-term salinity stress

Salinity influences the agricultural production all over the world. This constrain, similar to others biotic and abiotic stresses generate the reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. In the evolution process of halophyte plants the mechanisms to detoxify ROS, such as antioxidant enzymes, have been developed. Aeluropus littoralis is a special halophyte that selected to our research, so the plants treated with NaCl at different salt concentration (0, 250, 450 and 650 mM) for a period 45 days. Leaves and roots (separately) collected and their proteins extracted for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) activity assay. Meanwhile the electrolyte leakage of leaves analyzed and increased at 450 and 650 mM of NaCl concentrations. Superoxide dismutase and catalase showed same pattern for changing in enzymatic activities (increasing activity by salt stress in roots and decreasing in shoot at 450 and 650 mM stress), also peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase activity almost increased in all stress conditions.     

硝普钠对缺铁和硝酸盐胁迫下番茄幼苗生长及生理特性的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究外源NO供体(硝普钠,SNP)对缺铁和硝酸盐胁迫番茄幼苗生长、养分吸收及抗氧化酶活性的影响.结果表明: 处理7 d后,缺铁使番茄幼苗生长受到抑制,叶绿素a、b、类萝卜素含量显著降低,出现明显失绿症状;降低叶片中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性,电解质渗漏率、丙二醛含量明显增加,脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量变化不显著,幼苗叶片和根中N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Fe含量比对照处理有不同程度的减少.硝酸盐和缺铁双重胁迫对番茄幼苗生长抑制加剧,叶绿素a、b、类萝卜素含量、SOD、POD和CAT活性显著降低,电解质渗漏率、脯氨酸、可溶性糖和丙二醛含量明显增加;番茄幼苗叶片和根中N、P、Mg、Fe含量显著减少,而K、Ca含量显著增加. 与不添加处理相比,添加0.1 mmol·L^-1 SNP处理使胁迫番茄幼苗的生长抑制明显缓解.添加0.1 mmol·L^-1 SF(亚铁氰化钠)的处理在SOD、POD和CAT等指标上也表现出一定程度的缓解或促进作用,但其他生理指标没有表现出缓解或促进作用,原因是SF中也含有铁离子.     

Exogenous salicylic acid improves salinity tolerance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nitraria tangutorum</Emphasis>

In the present study, the physiological responses of Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. seedlings to NaCl stress and the regulatory function of exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) were investigated. NaCl in low concentration (100 mM) increased while in higher concentrations (200–400 mM) decreased the individual plant dry weights (wt) of seedlings. Decreased relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll content were observed in the leaves of seedlings subjected to salinity stress (100–400 mM NaCl). Furthermore, NaCl stress significantly increased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The levels of osmotic adjustment solutes including proline, soluble sugars, and soluble protein were enhanced under NaCl treatments as compared to the control. In contrast, exogenous application of SA (0.5–1.5 mM) to the roots of seedlings showed notable amelioration effects on the inhibition of individual plant dry wt, RWC, and chlorophyll content. The increases in electrolyte leakage and MDA content in the leaves of NaCl-treated seedlings were markedly inhibited by SA application. The SA application further increased the contents of proline, soluble sugars, and soluble protein. The activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were up-regulated by NaCl stress and the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT were further enhanced by SA treatments. Application of SA in low concentration (0.5 mM) enhanced while in higher concentrations (1.0 and 1.5 mM) inhibited APX activities in leaves of NaCl-treated seedlings. These results indicate that SA effectively alleviated the adverse effects of NaCl stress on N. tangutorum.     

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.     

Antioxidant enzyme changes in neem,pigeonpea and mulberry leaves in two stages of maturity

Differential expression of antioxidant enzymes in various growth and differentiation stages has been documented in several plant species. We studied here, the difference in the levels of protein content and antioxidant enzymes activity at two stages of maturity, named young and mature in neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) mill sp) and mulberry (Morus Alba L.) leaves. The results showed that detached neem and pigeonpea mature leaves possessed higher activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) and lower activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) as compared with young leaves. However, glutathione reductase (GR) showed higher activity in mature leaves of neem, whereas no change in its activity was observed in pigeonpea. On the other hand, antioxidant enzymes in mulberry showed either positive (PPO) or negative (POD, GR, APX) correlation with the progression of leaf maturity. Apparently the trend of changes in antioxidant enzymes activity during leaf development is species-specific: their activity higher at mature stage in some plants and lower in others.     

镉胁迫对矮牵牛种子萌发、幼苗生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用营养液培养的方法研究了不同浓度镉Cd（0、1、2和4 mmol·L^-1）处理对矮牵牛（Petunia hybrida）种子萌发、幼苗生长及生理特性的影响。结果发现：与对照相比,较低浓度（1 mmol·L^-1）Cd处理下矮牵牛种子萌发和幼苗生长均显著被抑制,当Cd浓度增至4 mmol·L^-1时完全抑制了矮牵牛种子的萌发。Cd胁迫在低浓度时激活矮牵牛幼苗叶片过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性,而高浓度产生抑制效应;抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性与对照相比均显著升高,丙二醛（MDA）含量无显著变化。不同浓度的乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)的加入使4 mmol·L^-1 Cd胁迫下矮牵牛幼苗叶片POD和APX活性增加,但不影响SOD和CAT活性;此外,6 mmol·L^-1 EDTA使Cd胁迫下矮牵牛幼苗叶片中MDA含量增加。结果表明,Cd胁迫抑制矮牵牛种子萌发和幼苗生长,却使幼苗叶片POD、CAT和APX活性增加,EDTA的加入能够进一步提高Cd胁迫幼苗POD和APX活性。因此,矮牵牛幼苗在Cd胁迫下具有较强的抗氧化损伤的能力。     

Cadmium effects on growth and antioxidant enzymes activities in Miscanthus sinensis

Plants of Miscanthus sinensis (cv. Giganteus) were grown in hydroponics for three months in nutrient solution with 0, 2.2, 4.4 and 6.6 μM CdNO₃. Growth parameters, catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were analysed in leaves and roots collected after 1-and 3-month exposure. Dry biomass of all miscanthus organs was affected by Cd concentration both after 1-and 3-month exposure. No visible symptoms of Cd toxicity were observed in shoots and rhizomes of plants grown in presence of Cd. In contrast, roots became shorter and thicker and the whole root system more dense and compact already after one month of treatment with 6.6 μM Cd. The lower Cd concentration increased the enzymes activities after 3 months in leaves and only after 1-month in roots, while a decrease in activity was observed at higher Cd concentrations.