The effects of Cd stress (0

3

6 and 9 mg/kg) on the growth

Cd accumulation and soil enzyme activities of Miscanthus sacchariflorus were studied by pot experiments from seed germination and cultivation for 132 d. The results showed that: The tolerance index of Miscanthus sacchariflorus increased at first and then decreased with the increase of the concentration of Cd. It was beneficial for plant growth when the concentration of Cd was no more than 6 mg/kg

whereas the growth was suppressed when the concentration of Cd was greater than 9 mg/kg. With the increase of Cd concentration

the content of chlorophyll

MDA and soluble sugar in leaves increased firstly and then decreased

and the peak appeared in 6 mg/kg Cd concentration; while the carotenoid content of leaves showed?a?contrary?tendency with the increase of Cd concentration. Three micronutrients (Cu

Zn and Fe) in root increased gradually with the increase of Cd concentration. Specifically

with increasing Cd concentration

Cu and Fe concentrations in aboveground part decreased at first and then increased

while Zn concentration showed a?continued?slowdown. Cd concentration of root and aboveground part rose gradually with increasing Cd concentration and the distribution of Cd was higher in root than in aboveground part. The root bioconcentration factors (BCF) of Miscanthus sacchariflorus exceeded 1 in various Cd concentrations

but the aboveground part BCF and translocation factors (TF) were less than 1. Cd accumulation of root increased at first and then decreased with the increase of Cd concentration; while Cd accumulation of aboveground part increased all the time. Furthermore

root was the main part of Cd accumulation. Soil enzyme activities had no significant differences among different Cd concentration (P > 0.05). Soil urease activity was promoted by Cd concentrations of 6 and 9 mg/kg

while

soil catalase activity was inhibited. Overall

the enzyme activities of urease and catalase in rhizosphere were high than those in non-rhizosphere. The findings indicate that Miscanthus sacchariflorus has high tolerance to Cd and the root presents strong capacity to accumulate Cd

therefore the plant had a certain potential in the stabilizing remediation of Cd contaminated soils.