Seeds of two cultivars,Oryza sativaL A andOryza sativaL. B, with comparable sizes and weights, were used in the study. The seeds were surface-sterilized in 2% sodium hypochlorite for 5 min and rinsed several times with sterile distilled water. The seeds were then soaked for 24 h at room temperature, germinated for 2 days, and sown in normal, Cd-free, soil. After 30 days, the seedlings were transplanted into plasticpots (26 cm in diameter and 22 cm in height,five plants/pot) with either normal or Cd-contaminated soil