Background. A major problem of the environmental pollution with heavy metals, including cadmium, requires an intensive study of the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying the tolerance of plants to these toxic substances. In this study we present a comparative analysis of the expression of stress-related genes in two pea genotypes contrasting in tolerance to cadmium. Materials and methods. A unique mutant of pea SGECdt, characterized by the increased tolerance to cadmium, and initial line

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... GE were used. Gene expression was analyzed by Real Time PCR. Results. In the line SGE cadmium increase the expression of genes, encoding catalase, chitinase, chitinase-like protein PRP4A and dirigent protein PI206. In the mutant SGECdt cadmium increase the expression of genes, encoding chitinase, glutathione reductase and defensin DRR230. In control samples expression of genes encoding PRP4A and DRRR230 was enhanced in mutant SGECdt versus line SGE. Conclusion. It was shown that, the reaction of the mutant SGECdt at the molecular level differs from that of the line SGE. In the mutant SGECdt, a change in the expression of a number of genes is observed, which may indicate that cadmium entering the cell causes activation of defense reactions.