Short-term treatment of tuber discs of potato (solanum tuberosum L.) w
ith cadmium chloride elevated the concentration of active oxygen speci
es ( O-2(-), H2O2) and activated the antioxidative system. Two cultiva
rs, Bintje and Bzura, susceptible and tolerant, respectively, to cadmi
um were examined. In more tolerant, control tissues the activity of as
corbic acid peroxidase (AAP) and catalase (CAT) was higher than in the
sensitive ones. During first hours of stress, the inhibition of super
oxide dismutase (SOD), CAT and AAP was observed and it comes from inac
tivation of enzymes by cadmium ions. A subsequent activity increase of
the enzymes aroused earlier in tolerant tissues. It seems therefore,
that tolerant tissues possess a more efficient antioxidative system.