Effect of cerium (Ce3+) on the growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme system in rape seedlings (Brassica juncea L.)exposed to two levels of UV-B radiation (T1: 0.15 W/m2 and T2:0.35 W/m2) was studied by hydroponics under laboratory conditions.After 5 d of UV-B treatment, the aboveground growth indices were obviously decreased by 13.2%-44.1%(T1) and 21.4%-49.3%(T2), compared to CK, and except active absorption area of roots, the belowground indices by 14.1%-35.6%(T1) and 20.3%-42.6%(T2). For Ce+UV-B treatments, the aboveground and belowground growth indices were decreased respectively by 4.1%-23.6%, 5.2%-23.3%(Ce+T1) and 10.8%-28.4%, 7.0%-27.8%(Ce+T2), lower than those of UV-B treatments. The decrease of growth indices appeared to be the result of changes of physiological processes. Two levels of UV-B radiation induced the decrease in chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and water use efficiency by 11.2%-25.9%(T1) and 20.9%-56.9%(T2), whereas increase in membrane permeability and activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) by 6.9%, 22.8%, 21.5%, 9.5%(T1) and 36.6%, 122.3%, 103.5%, 208.9%(T2), respectively. The reduction of the photosynthetic parameters in Ce+UV-B treatments was lessened to 3.2%-13.8%(Ce+T1) and 4.9%-27.6%(Ce+T2),and the increase of membrane permeability and activities of antioxidant enzymes except POD in the same treatments were lessened to 2.4%, 8.4%, 6.6%(Ce+T1) and 30.1%, 116.7%, 75.4%(Ce+T2). These results indicate that the regulative effect of Ce on photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymatic function is the ecophysiological basis of alleviating the suppression of UV-B radiation on growth of seedlings. Furthermore, the protective effect of Ce on seedlings exposed to T1 level of UV-B radiation is superior to T2 level.