INDUCTION OF GLUTATHIONE TRANSFERASE-ACTIVITY IN WHEAT AND PEA-SEEDLINGS BY CADMIUM

The effect of the heavy metal cadmium on the glutathione transferase ( GT) activity was studied in the shoots and roots of wheat and pea seed lings. The exposure to cadmium led to the reduction of plant growth ra tes and to a marked induction of GT activity in both plants. In wheat the induction was stronger in the roots than in the shoots at low cadm ium concentrations (40-160 muM), but at 640 muM cadmium the effect was more pronounced in the shoots (4.0-fold increase of the activity as c ompared to control). In pea seedlings the induction rates were general ly higher in the roots than in the shoots (at 640 muM cadmium the acti vity in the roots was 340% of the control).