CADMIUM-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN POTATO-TUBER

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.