Six varieties of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Á Asha, Subrata, IPL 406, IPL 81, Lv and Sehore Á were exposed to temperatures ranging from 30Á508C which resulted in retarded germination and seedling growth at higher temperatures. Tolerance index and membrane stability tests revealed Sehore and Lv to be susceptible to elevated temperatures while IPL 406, IPL 81, Asha and Subrata were tolerant. Catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase showed an initial increase before declining at 508C, while peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities declined at all temperatures. Lipid peroxidation significantly increased in all varieties. In the tolerant varieties, there was an initial decrease in accumulation of H 2 O 2 followed by an increase from 408C onwards; however, in the susceptible varieties, accumulation was enhanced at all high temperatures. Ascorbate and glutathione also showed initial increase followed by a decline. Total antioxidant activity was at a maximum at 35Á408C in the tolerant varieties and at 308C in the susceptible ones. Oxidative stress induced by high temperature was ameliorated by treatment with salicylic acid, abscisic acid or CaCl 2 , of which salicylic acid was the most effective.