Abstract: An experiment was conducted in flowerpots to study the effect of the pyrene level in soil on the growth leaf,chlorophyll content and anti-oxidative enzyme activity of the spinach(Spinacia oleracea L.).No significant differences were found on the root length in different growth periods or the contents of chlorophyll a,chlorophyll b,chlorophyll a+b and carotenoid in the leaves,when 50-200 mg•kg-1 pyrene was applied.However,when pyrene application was greater than 50 mg•kg-1,significant reductions on plant height,fresh root,stem and leaf weights at the seedling stage were observed.As the pyrene increased beyond 100 mg•kg-1,the dry root,stem and leaf weights at harvesting stage decreased significantly.Pyrene stress increased MDA and SS in the leaves of the spinach seedling.It also significantly increased the APX,CAT and POD activities,as well as the antioxidant AsA contents in the leaves.