Comparative proteomic analysis provides new insights into cadmium accumulation in rice grain under cadmium stress.

•Cd is the most toxic heavy metal and is a major pollutant in rice grains.•The mechanism of Cd accumulation in rice grains has not been well demonstrated.•Proteomics analysis is carried out and the verification is implemented by QPCR.•Proteins associated with ROS and photosynthesis showed large variation in expression.