The effects of osmotic stress on the ATPase activity, the contents of -SH group and conjugated polyamines in mitochondrial membrane from wheat seedling [Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yumai No.18(drought-tolerant) and cv. Yumai No.9(drought-sensitive)] roots were investigated. The results showed that ATPase activity and -SH group content decreased with polyethylene glycol(PEG) 6000(-0.55 MPa) treatment for 7 d, in concert with the decrease of the ratio of noncovalently conjugated spermidine(NCC-Spd)/noncovalently conjugated putrescine(NCC-Put) and increase of the covalently conjugated putrescine(CC-Put). Osmotic stress injury to Yangmai No.9 seedlings was alleviated greatly with 1 mmol/L exogenous spermidined(Spd), in concert with marked increases of the ratio of NCC-Spd/NCC-Put, -SH group contents and ATPase activity in mitochondrial membrane. Under osmotic stress, the concomitant treatment of Yumai No.18 seedlings with methylglyoxyl bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), an inhibitor of S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase(SAMDC), and phenanthrolin (o-Phen), an inhibitor of transglutaminase(TGase), caused a significant decrease of the ratio of NCC-Spd / NCC-Put, CC-Put contents, respectively, in concert with the marked decreases of ATPase activity, -SH group content and its tolerance to osmotic stress. All the results above suggested that osmotic stress tolerance of wheat seedlings was associated with the ATPase activity, the contents of -SH group, NCC-Spd and CC-Put in mitochondrial membrane.