[Objective]The paper was to explore the effects of pyrene stress on growth and physiological indexes of maize seedling.[Method] The effects of different concentrations of pyrene（0,0.5,1.0,and 2.0 mg/L） on growth and several physiological indexes,such as chlorophyll content,malnodiadehyde（MDA） content of both leaves and roots of maize（Zea Mays L.） seedlings of Shixiang 1（sensitive variety） and Guangtian 3（tolerant variety） were studied by a hydroponic experiment.[Result]As the concentration of prene increasing within the test concentration range,the contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in Shixiang 1 first increased and then decreased;relative growth yield and absolute growth rate showed the decreasing trend;MDA contents in roots and leaves showed the increasing trend.Relative growth yield,absolute growth rate and chlorophyll a content in Guangtian 3 first increased and then decreased;chlorophyll b and MDA contents in roots showed the increasing trend;MDA contents in leaves showed the decreasing trend.Compared with control,chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents of Shixiang 1 significantly increased under pyrene concentration of 0.5-1.0 mg/L,which significantly decreased as the concentration of pyrene ≥2.0 mg/L;MDA contents in roots and leaves significantly increased as the concentration of pyrene ≥1.0 mg/L,while relative growth yield and absolute growth rate significantly decreased.Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents in Guangtian 3 significantly increased as the concentration of pyrene ≥1.0 mg/L.Pyrene concentration had significantly negative correlation with relative growth yield and absolute growth rate of Shixiang 1,while it had significant positive correlation with MDA contents in roots.Pyrene concentration had significant positive correlation with chlorophyll b and MDA contents in roots of tolerant variety Guangtian 3.[Conclusion]The study provided basis for the management measures of maize during its seedling stage.
