The effects of cadmium on germination and seedling growth of Suaeda salsa

Cadmium ion (Cd2+) is a ubiquitous toxic heavy metal in the environment and presents a potential threat to human health via the food chain through plant root uptake systems. The halophyte, Suaeda salsa is the pioneer plant in the Yellow River Delta and has been widely applied as a model plant in environmental pollution assessment. In this work, the study was conducted using a liquid culture with a series of Cd2+ concentrations. Germination rates and activities of three enzymes (catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferase (GST)) in the seedling were investigated. Results showed that the germination indices and growth inhibition indices of S. salsa decreased significantly (p