Effects of different rootstocks on cadmium accumulation characteristics of the post-grafting generations of .

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of different rootstocks on the cadmium (Cd) accumulation characteristics of the post-grafting generations of Cd-hyperaccumulator plants. Five treatments, ungrafted and seedlings grafted on the rootstocks of , , , and , were utilized. The four rootstock grafts decreased the shoot biomass of the post-grafting generation compared with ungrafted. The and grafts increased the Cd concentration in shoots of the post-grafting generation by 15.06% and 14.40%, respectively, compared with ungrafted, while the and grafts had no significant effects. grafts increased the amount of Cd extracted by shoots of the post-grafting generation by 10.59% compared with ungrafted, while the other treatments resulted in decreases. Compared with ungrafted, the different rootstocks had no significant effects on the photosynthetic pigment content of the post-grafting generation, and only grafts increased the superoxide dismutase activity level, while only grafts increased the peroxidase activity level. Therefore, the rootstock could increase the phytoremediation capability of post-grafted plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil.