EFFECT OF CADMIUM ON ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA MUTANTS TOLERANT TO OXIDATIVE STRESS

In this paper we investigate the changes in fresh weight, chlorophyll content, catalase and guiacol peroxidase activities of nine oxidative stress-tolerant atr (AAL-toxin resistant) Arabidopsis thaliana mutants subjected to cadmium stress. We show that atr2, atr7 and atr9 are more tolerant to CdCl2. There was no significant change in catalase activity under cadmium treatment in all atr lines including the parental line loh2 compared with untreated seedlings. All lines but atr9 showed reduction in guaiacol peroxidase activity. This suggests that the sensitivity to the cadmium-induced oxidative stress at least in some lines is linked to impaired reactive oxygen species.