ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 37, Number 12
JKCSEZ 37(12)
December 20, 1993 

Catalase activities were assayed on the leaves and roots of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) as a function of age for 1 year after germination. The enzyme activities of root tissue demonstrated to be insignificant through all stages of development. On the other hand, the catalase activities of leaf peroxisomal fractions showed remarkable changes with peak value of 76 μmol/ml/min at germination stage within 2 weeks growth, 7.2 μmol/ml/min at adult stage around 4∼5 months growth and very small activities at aged period around 11∼12 months growth. It is suggested that there may be two factors concerning such catalase activities in relation with age, firstly the glyoxisomal reactions including glyoxylate cycle and β-oxidation at germination stage and secondly photosynthesis hereafter seemed to affect age dependent changes of catalase activity by producing coincident amount of H2O2. In addition, NADPH coenzyme was found to have ability to restore catalytic acitivity of inactivated catalase (compound Ⅱ) at all stages of development except old age, indicating NADPH would play a role as catalase protector against deleterious substrate, H2O2.