Sedum alfredii Hance has been identified as a new Zn-hyperaccumulator native to China. In this study, responses and metal accumulation of S alfredii were examined under Zn/Cd complex polluted conditions. The results showed that optimal growth of S alfredii in terms of the maximum dry matter yield was observed at Zn/Cd complex level of 500/100 mumol/L. Plant cadmium (Cd) or zinc (Zn) concentrations increased with increasing Cd or Zn supply. During the 20 d treatment, the highest Cd concentration in the leaves reached 12.1 g/kg at Zn/Cd level of 50/400 mumol/L and that of Zn in the stems was 23.2 g/kg at Zn/Cd level of 1000/50 mumol/L. The distribution of Cd in different plant parts decreased in the order: leaf > stem greater than or equal to root, whereas that of Zn was: stem > leaf greater than or equal to root. The accumulation of Cd and Zn in the shoots and roots of S. alfredii increased with the increasing of Zn/Cd supply levels, peaked at Zn/Cd levels of 250/400 and 500/100 mumol/L, respectively. The highest Cd and Zn uptake by the shoots was approximately 5 and 11 mg/plant, and was over 20 and 10 times higher than those in the roots, respectively. Zn supply at levels less than or equal to 500 mumol/L increased plant Cd concentrations, whereas high Zn supply decreased root Cd but did not affect leaf Cd concentrations in S alfredii Low Cd supply increased Zn concentration in the leaves, but Cd supply higher than 50 mumol/L considerably reduced root Zn concentrations, especially at low Zn level. These results indicate that S. alfredii can tolerate high Zn/Cd complex levels and has an extraordinary ability to hyperaccumulate not only Zn but also Cd. It could provide a new valuable plant material for understanding the mechanisms responsible for co-hyperaccumulation of Zn and Cd as well as for phytoremediation of the Cd/Zn complex polluted soils.
