We studied how the relationship between cadmium (Cd) toxicity and oxidative stress influenced the growth, photo-synthetic efficiency, lipid peroxidation, and activity of ntioxidative enzymes in the roots and leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L. Dongjin). Plants were exposed to Cd for 21 d. Both seedling growth and photosynthetic efficiency decreased gradually with increasing cadmium concentrations. Lipid peroxidation increased slowly in both roots and leaves, causing oxidative stress. However, each tissue type responded differently to Cd concentrations with regard to the induction/inhibition of antioxidative enzymes. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased in both roots and leaves. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity increased in leaves treated with up to 0.25 $mu$M Cd, then decreased gradually at higher concentrations. In contrast, APX activity in roots increased and remained constant between 0.25 and 25 $mu$M Cd. Enhanced peroxidase (POD) activity was recorded for treatments with up to 25 $mu$M Cd, gradually decreasing at higher concentrations in the leaves but remaining unchanged in the roots. Catalase (CAT) activity increased in the roots, but decreased in the leaves, whereas the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) was enhanced in both roots and leaves, where it remained elevated at higher Cd concentrations. These results suggest that rice seedlings tend to cope with free radicals generated by Cd through coordinated, enhanced activities of the antioxidative enzymes involved in detoxification.