Long-term adaptation of water hyacinth to low cadmium involves antioxidant enzyme and metallothionein transcriptional regulation.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the main heavy metal pollutants in environment. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an effective phytoremediation plant for mitigating Cd stress, though the concentration threshold for its long-term survival remains unclear. Our results indicate that 4 mg L Cd may be the maximum threshold for long-term cultivation of water hyacinth, as it significantly inhibits root growth and photosynthesis.