In order to evaluate the effects of salt stress on growth and photosynthetic physiology in Jatropha curcas L.The growth,content of photosynthetic pigments,photosynthetic parameters as net photosynthetic rate (Pn), etc.,malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage (EL) of Jatropha curcas L. treated with different concentrations of NaCl in greenhouse were investigated.The results obtained are as follows：①Compared with the control,the growth and biomasse of Jatropha curcas L. were enhanced with 25-50 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment,especially with 50 mmol·L-1 NaCl.The fresh weight increased 44.3% than the control.The growth and the biomasses had no significant changes with 100 and 150 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment, but were inhibited with 200-250 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment.For example,the fresh weight under the 200 and 250 mmol·L-1 NaCl stresses decreased significantly 39.3% and 70.2% respestively.②Compared with control, net photosynthetic rate increased significantly 17.2% under 50mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment, while had no significant changes under 100 and 150 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment.Under 200 and 250 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment,it decreased significantly 732% and 77.9% respestively.Under the different concentrations salt stresses,the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate showed the similar trends of net photosynthetic rate, but the MDA and EL showed the contrary ③The chlorophyll contens increased progressively with 25 and 50 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment, then decreased with 100-250 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment, but had no significant effect on the chlorophyll a/b ratio.The carotinoid contents increased significantly with 25 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment,then decrease with 50-250 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment,but the Car/Chl ratio increased gradually with the increasing salt concentrations. ④The WUE had no significant changes with 25-150 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment, but decreased significantly 33.5% and 22.6% respestively with 200 and 250 mmol L-1 NaCl treatment. We conclude that Jatropha curcas L. seedlings had a higer Pn than the control by increasing stomatal conductance, stability and activity of photosynthetic membrane and other cell membranes with 25 and 50 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment, thus promoting the growth and biomasses,and salt-tolerance can be further increased. Pn had no significant decrease with 100 and 150 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment because of steady WUE, while the growth and other metabolisms of seedlings were little affected. Pn decreased significantly with 200 and 250 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment due to the weakening of stability and activity of cell membrane, the seedlings raised salt-tolerance by incraesing the activities of antioxidant systems and reducing the growth.Jatropha curcas L. has a good adaptative response to salt stress, it can grow well below 150 mmol L-1 NaCl treatment.