The effect of heavy metals on the streptomycete pure cultures under solid and liquid nutrient media has been studied. There were revealed streptomycete forms sensitive and resistant to heavy metals. Streptomyces versipellis strain 1, S. griseoalbus strain 6, and S. viridogenes strain 570 belong to the first group. The increase of metal content in the agarized medium caused the decrease of the number and dimension of colonies, capacity for sporulation and loss of aerial mycelium, soluble pigment, and, at last, death. These cultures may be used as indicators of the soil heavy metal pollution in the future. The resistant streptomycete forms had good growth under experimental conditions and could accumulate the metals in the liquid media: S. flavovirens, strain 12,--about 230 micrograms of copper ions, S. albaduncus, strain 279,--209 micrograms of cadmium ions and S. alboviridis, strain 141-653 micrograms of lead ions per 1 g of dry mycelium. It is supposed that these streptomycetes, when assimilating the above metals in amounts required for life about can exclude them from the circulation and can decrease the metal negative influence on plants.