Abstract: This paper aimed at exploring the influence of exogenous betaine on the wheat seedling (Lunxuan 988) growth under lead stress. By solution culture method, the effects of root-applying glycine betaine (GB) on the growth of wheat seedling under lead stress were studied. It turned out that the plant height, root length and weight showed a tendency to decrease after first increase, which peaked at 5 mg·L⁻¹ Pb²⁺, with the improvement of Pb²⁺ concentration. After the application of 5.0 mmol·L⁻¹ betaine under the condition of lead stress with 50 mg·L⁻¹ Pb²⁺, the root length, plant height, root fresh weight and root dry weight of wheat seedlings increased by 29.8%, 11.54%, 25.13% and 42.5%, respectively. The activilies of SOD, POD, CAT and APX were increased by 41.54%, 43.85%, 40.15% and 40.48%, respectively. The content of superoxide anion (O₂⁻), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA), proline (Pro) decreased by 87.16%, 63.21%, 20.86% and 71.14%, respectively. The soluble sugar content and root activity increased by 34.34% and 56.50%, respectively. Thus, the appropriate concentration of root-applying GB could significantly enhance the antioxidant capacity of root system, and restore the root activity, so as to effectively reduce the harm of lead stress on the growth of wheat seedlings.