Halophytes have several advantages to be more effective in metal phytoextraction. Little is known about the Cd-phytoextraction
potential of Atriplex lentiformis under different levels of Cd. Seven levels of Cd (0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 mg per kg of
soil) were added to A. lentiformis plants grown on pots filled with 5 kg of sandy loam soil. A. lentiformis plants achieve different
defense mechanisms to meet the high concentration of Cd in the soil and plant. These mechanisms include reducing the number
and area of leaves, minimizing chlorophyll synthesis, and enhancing synthesizing of oxalic acid, phenols, and proline. The
critical point of Cd was 9.35 and 183 mg kg−1 for available soil Cd and leaves concentrations, respectively. The maximum level
of Cd displayed a 66% decrease in the chlorophyll content of the leaves. On the other hand, the oxalic acid, phenols, and proline
in the leaves were increased significantly by 129, 100, and 200% when Cd increased from 0 to 240 mg. The tested plant removed
3.6% of the total soil Cd under the low Cd concentration (40 mg) but under the high level of Cd (240 mg), it only removed a
negligible amount of soil Cd (0.74%). The current study confirmed that A. lentiformis plants lost the ability to cleanup Cd from
contaminated soil under the high levels of contamination due to the high reduction in the production of dry matter