Abstract:The changes of chlorophyll (Chl) content and contents of protochlorophyllide (Pchl), superoxide radical (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (ASA), glutathione (GSH), carotenoid (CAR) and the binding capacity of chlorophyll-protein (Chl-Pro) in rice (Oryza sativa L. ) seedlings exposed to osmotic stress induced by PEG 6000 (–0. 5 MPa, –0.8 MPa) were investigated to explore the relationship between Chl degradation and active oxygen effect. Under osmotic stress, Chl degradation was accompanied by the increase of contents of O2-, H2O2 and MDA and the decrease of contents of antioxidants AsA, GSH and CAR. The binding of Chl-Pro was loosened with the change of time and intensity of osmotic stress. Pretreatment with scavengers for active oxygen, such as AsA, α-tocopherol and mannitol retarded lipid peroxidation and reduced the oxidative injury of Chl, but Fe2+, H2O2 and Fenton reaction promoted the formation of MDA. The Fenton reaction accelerated the degradation of Chl. The results indicate that Chl degradation in rice seedlings induced by osmotic stress may be mainly due to the formation of more active hydroxyl radicals (‘OH) through Fenton reaction and Haber-Weiss reaction.