[Objective] The aim was to study the relationship between urcrose, zinc and the root system growth in rice. [Method] Changes of root system growth, ROS generation and root system proton export ability were analyzed in rice （Oryza sativa L. cv Zhonghua No.11） treated with different concentrations of Zn （NO3）3 sucrose, com- bined sucrose and Zn （NO3）3 mannitol as well as mannitol plus Zn （NO3）2. [Result] The results showed that treatment with 1-3 mM Zn（NO3）2 resulted in significant increases in total root length /number and in accumulation of H202 and 02- but decreases in root system proton export ability. With the exception of shoot length, the length of primary, adventitious, and lateral roots, and the number of adventitious, and lateral roots on primary /adventitious roots were all influenced by different concentrations of sucrose. High concentrations of sucrose caused increases in H202 and O2-, starva- tion or high concentrations of sucrose reduced root system proton export ability after treating with or without Zn. However, at the same concentration of sucrose, different changes of these indicators were observed between Zn and non-Zn treatments. The regulation of root system growth induced by sucrose was marked different from that of mannitol at the same concentration of 5%, suggesting that these effects were caused by sugar signal but not by osmotic potential. [Conclusion] This study indicat- ed that both sucrose and Zn play important roles in the regulation of rice root system growth.
