The growth and antioxidant defense responses of wheat seedlings to omethoate stress

► For the first time, we report that antioxidative defense response is an important component of plant responses to omethoate. ► Contents of malondialdehyde and activities of SOD, POD and APX in shoots increased with increasing omethoate levels. ► Catalase activity increased dramatically at 0.1 g/L but decreased sharply by omethoate added at 1.0 g/L and above.