Abstract: By installing a treatment of sulfur starvation, this paper studied the dynamic changes of rice seedling growth, cadmium (Cd) and non-protein thiol (NPT) contents, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity under Cd stress. Cd stress inhibited the seedling growth obviously, induced the synthesis of sulfhydryl (-SH) compounds, including non-protein thiol, glutathione, and phytochelatins, and made the GST activity decreased after an initial increase. Sulfur starvation somewhat increased the Cd uptake and translocation, but less affected the impacts of Cd stress. The contents of -SH compounds decreased, and the GST activity in root increased. It was suggested that the roles of -SH compounds and GST in Cd-resistance of rice were complementary, being able to alleviate the Cd toxicity to some extent.

Key words: sulfur starvation, cadmium, rice, non-protein thiol, glutathione S-transferase, habitat, litter, Horqin Sandy Land