Accumulation of cadmium and nonprotein thiols (NPT) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling as affected by short-term treatment of different combinations of sulfate and cadmium was studied.The results showed that short-term(6 days) Cd stress did not cause significant decline of the seedling biomass,but the interaction between cadmium and sulfate did affect cadmium accumulation in rice seedlings.It was observed that increasing sulfate supply could considerably enhance cadmium transport from root to shoot,thus resulting in higher accumulation of cadmium in leaf.Both of cadmium only stress and higher level of sulfate supply increased NPT content in seedlings,particularly in roots,although level of the phosphate buffer-extractable proteins in plants was kept on changed.Supply of cadmium and sulfate together could further increase NPT content in seedlings,indicating a positive effect of the interaction on NPT.It was concluded that sufficient supply of sulfate could improve rice tolerance to cadmium stress but also enhance cadmium accumulation in the leaf.