The effect of IAA on lysine decarboxylase(LDC)activity, diamine oxidase (DAO) activity and the polyamine level in seedlings of soybean were investigated. The seedlings of soybean were treated with IAA (10-8M, 10-6M, 10-4M) and LDC activity, DAO activity and polyamine levels of cotyledon, elongating hypocotyl, elongated hypocotyl and the root were measured after 4, 6, 8, 10 days. Increased concentration of IAA stimulated the LDC activity and increased the level of polyamine in the seedlings, which reducing the DAO activity and polyamine level was increased in the seedlings. The light also stimulated the IAA effect on polyamine level and DAO activity, and polyamine level was higher in the seedlings grown in the light than those in the dark. Cadaverine was the most abundant polyamine in the seedlings of soybean. The levels of diamines, cadaverine, putrescine were higher in the elongated hypocotyl and root than in the elongating hypocotyl, but the levels of spermidine and spermine were relatively higher in the cotyledon than in the other parts. Accumulation of diamines by high concentration of IAA is postulated to be a phenomenon of inhibition in seedlings growth.