Bursts of ethylene production occurred in twice at an early exponential (EEP) and prestationary (PSP) phases, respectively, during growth of callus tissue isolated from the root of soybean seedlings. The second burst of ethylene production at PSP was smaller in magnitude than the earlier one at EEP, but was followed by increases in both guaiacol peroxidase (GuPOX) and ascorbate peroxidase (AsPOX). The increase in AsPOX activity was also preceded by an increase in lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. Treatment of the tissue with the ethylene antagonist 2,5-norbonadiene (NBD) resulted in substantial reduction in LOX and AsPOX activities during this period. GuPOX activity was reduced only slightly, if any, by NBD. Role of ethylene in the sequential induction of LOX and AsPOX in senescing callus tissue is discussed.