2) normal soil with added suspension of strain 9#; 3) normal soil with added suspension of strain 9# and added Cd (total concentration 3 mg/kg); 4) normal soil with added suspensions of equal amounts of strains 2#, 9# and 12#and added Cd (total concentration 3 mg/kg); and 5) normal soil with added Cd (total concentration 3 mg/kg). Each experiment was carried out in triplicate. Seedlings with similar appearance and biomass were carefully transplanted into each pot. After 35 days, the plants were care-fully removed from the pots and the root surfaces were washed several times with distilled water in preparation for examination of the role of bacterial inoculation (single or mixed) on seedling growth. Throughout the experiments, the soil was maintained at 60% of its water-holding capacity, and fertilizers and farm chemicals were used in the normal way.