Effects of pyrene on growth and several physiological characteristics of Raphanus sativus seedling.

Effects of different concentrations of pyrene in soil on growth and several physiological characteristics of Raphanus sativus seedlings were studied. The results showed that pyrene had little effects on emergence rate, but significantly suppressed the plant height, root length and leaf area. Pyrene stress could bring about the reduction in contents of chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b significantly. While the MDA contents and leakage rate of electrolyte in seedling were increased significantly. Except the SOD activity were decreased, the POD and CAT activities were firstly increased and then decreased by pyrene.