Three-weeks old Commelina communis was transferred to Hoagland solution (Control, 100 μM Cd²⁺, 100 μM Cd²⁺ + 100 μM ABA, 100 μM Cd²⁺+50 mM KCl) and grown for a week in the solution and then a number of physiological activities were investigated. In cases of Cd²⁺ and Cd²⁺ + ABA treatments, the growth of the plants was inhibited to 71 % and 81 %, respectively, when compared with the control, but there were no significant difference of plant growth between Cd²⁺ and Cd²⁺ + KCl- treated plants. In the treatments of Cd²⁺, Cd²⁺ + ABA and Cd²⁺ + KCl total chlorophyll contents were reduced to 32%, 41% and 29%, respectively. In chlorophyll fluorescence experiments, Fv/Fm ratios were also reduced to 14∼20% and about 23%, respectively, according to the light intensity by Cd²⁺ and Cd²⁺+ABA-treated plants. Water stresses were increased by the treatment of Cd²⁺, Cd²⁺ + ABA and Cd²⁺ + KCI. In Cd²⁺ accumulation experiments Cd²⁺ transport into the plant by ABA was not affected, but the accumulation of Cd²⁺ into the roots was elevated to 13% when compared with the control. Cd²⁺ transport into the root was markedly inhibited to 60% by KCl. Therefore, it could be concluded that ABA did not reduce the toxicities of Cd²⁺, but enhanced Cd²⁺ - induced toxicities and KCl showed no effect on Cd²⁺ - induced toxicities.