Abstract:The effects of root zone oxygenation on rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots architecture, radial oxygen loss (ROL), iron plaque formation and Cd accumulation were investigated in aerated and stagnant nutrient solutions. The results indicated that seedlings grown in stagnant solutions developed shorter and thicker roots but higher biomass and ROL rate than those in aerated ones. In addition, Cd accumulation was greatly inhibited in tissues of stagnant rice seedlings. When exposed to 1.0 mg/L Cd2+ solutions, Cd adsorbed on stagnant root surface was decreased by 85.5%, while Cd accumulated in the same roots and shoots reduced by 35% and 58% respectively, comparing with those on and in aerated ones. Iron plaque could inhibit Cd uptake by and translocation in rice seedlings by adsorbing 50% of the total Cd accumulated in root system, but only in conditions with sufficient root-zone-oxygen and higher Cd concentration (1.0 mg/L). As for in condition of root zone with deoxygenation, root structure (e.g. reduced root permeability) per se may be more important than Fe plaque to affect Cd uptake in rice seedlings.