Abstract: Taking one-year old peach[Prunus persica（L.）Batsch.] seedlings as test materials. This paper studied the effects of herbicides（glyphosate and paraquat）on growth and development，root structure and photosynthesis in peach seedlings. The results showed that at early days after spraying paraquat，the electrolyte leakage rate of roots was raised，after that，the damages to the roots was reduced as time went on afterward. On the 40th day after spraying paraquat，the leaf transpiration rate（Tr）increased while the water utilization efficiency（WUE）decreased and total aboveground dry matter lower than that of control. Glyphosate showed obvious influence on external morphology of peach. On the 7th day after spraying glyphosate，the young leaves getting yellow，curling upwards. The electrolyte leakage rate of roots was always higher than that of the control. On the 40th day after spraying glyphosate，the total length，volume，surface area and tip number of roots were decreased significantly. The leaf photosynthetic rate（Pn），transpiration rate（Tr）and stomatal conduction（Gs）decreased. The glyphosate treatment also significantly inhibited dry matter accumulation of peach. These results imply the glyphosate have a influence on plant aboveground through root transduction. We should avoid using systemic herbicides in peach orchard.

Key words: Prunus persica, herbicide, stress, response