Toxic Effect of Cadmium on Azolla Imbricata (Roxb.) Nakai

After cultivating 4 days in Steinberg medium with different concentrations of Cd2+ , the toxic effect of cadmiun on Azolla imbricata (Roxb.) Nakai was investigated for the purpose to find out if this plant is suitable to using on restoration of waterbody with cadmium pollution. The variations of chlorophyll content, soluble-protein content, peroxidase (POD) activity, catalase(CAT) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of Azolla imbricata (Roxb.) Nakai were measured in this study. The results show that the chlorophyll content of Azolla imbricata(Roxb.)Nakai has no significant changes in media with Cd2+ concentrations compare with control. The MDA content ascended significantly from the Cd2+ concentration was 5 mg•L-1, because of the intensified oxidative damage. When Cd2+ concentration is 0.1~20 mg•L-1, the souble protein content, POD activity and CAT activity increased to resist the oxidative damage. Azolla imbricata (Roxb.) Nakai is tolerance of cadmium pollution, it can be used to water bodies restoration with low level cadmium pollution.