Abstract: Rice seedlings for cold-hardening were germinated from seeds treated with or without immersion in 30 mmol/L of CaCl2 solution. Change of membrane system protectivity in leaves at various periods (viz: following cold-hardening, chilling stress and on the 3rd day of recovery); the ratio of seedling survival and the ability of recovery were investigated. The results showed that cold-hardening increased the contents of endogenous antioxidants (the reduced form of glutathione, GSH; ascorhic acid, ASA), SOD activity and the content of heat stable protein in soluble protein. Cold-hardening combined with the CaC12 treatment of seeds enhanced the above-mentioned effects of cold-hardening, and obviously increased the activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD). Both cold-hardening with or without the CaCl2 treatment reduced the declining degree of GSH, AsA content, the SOD activity and the heat stable protein content caused by chilling stress, augmented the increase in the level of GSH, AsA, CAT, SOD, POD and heat stable protein in the recovery periods. The CaC12 pretreatment especially had more effect on the level of heat stable protein, augmenting the A protein to rise to the level in normal seedlings. Furthermore, cold-hardened seedlings from seeds pretreated with CaClz grew faster and better in the recovery period of chilling stress than those from seeds without CaClz pretreatment. This promotive effect of CaC12 treatment on seeds prior to cold-hardening of seedling could be associated with an aug- mentation of membrane protectivity induced by the combined treatment.

Key words: Rice seedlings, Cold-hardening, CaC12