A novel metallothionein gene HcMT from halophyte shrub Halostachys caspica respond to cadmium and sodium stress.

Cadmium (Cd) and sodium (Na) are two of the most phytotoxic metallic elements causing environmental and agricultural problems. Metallothioneins (MTs) play an important role in the adaptation to abiotic stress. We previously isolated a novel type 2 MT gene from Halostachys caspica (H.