Abstract: By using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique in combining with morphological and physiological observation, this paper studied the genomic DNA damage of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings under the Ca stress. After treated with 0.25, 30 and 5.0 mg·L^-1 of Cd for 24 days, the root elongation growth of the seedlings was inhibited, the total soluble protein content in shoots decreased after an initial increase, but the leaf number, fresh weight, and chlorophyll content were less affected. Using 12 oligonucleotide primers (10 bp) to amplify the genomic DNA of the seedlings shoot and root cells by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), it was observed that the RAPD profiles showed obvious differences between the normal and Cdexposed plantlets, and the change effect was dosedependent. The genomic template stability (GTS) decreased with increasing Cd stress. The GTS of the shoots in the treatments  0.25, 3.0 and 5.0 mg·L^-1 of Cd was 91%, 89%, and 80%, and that of the roots was 71%, 67%, and 60%, respectively. In sum, the changes in the DNA polymorphism of A. thaliana seedlings detected by RAPD technique could be used as a biomarker to detect the genotoxic effect of Cd on plants, and the changes in the RAPD profiles of A.thaliana roots were more sensitive than the other indicators, being more suitable for the diagnosis of soil pollutants.

Key words: archival tags, geolocation, light intensity, migration, marine animals.