PEG-6000 was used to simulate drought stress, and the effects of PEG - 6000 concentrations (0, -0. 4,-0. 8,-1. 2,-1. 6,and -2. 0 MPa) on seedling root growth and physiological indexes of 5 samples of sain- foin were studied. The drought resistance in seedling stage was also analyzed and evaluated. The five sainfoin samples including 3 sainfoin lines (P1, P2, P3),Onobrychis viciaefolia‘Gansu’(CK1) and O. viciaefolia‘Meng- nong’(CK2). The results showed that root shoot ratio, total root surface, root tip number,contents of soluble pro- tein and soluble sugar increased first and then decreased, average root diameter and root volume significantly de-creased, root length and MDA content significantly increased with the increasing of PEG-6000 concentration. Un- der severe stress,root volume,total root surface,average root diameter of P1 decreased the least, and MDA content of P1 was the lowest. The Root soluble protein content of P2 increased the most. Root shoot ratio of CK1 decreased the least, whereas soluble sugar content of CK1 increased the most. Root activity and root tip number of CK2 de- creased the least, and root length of CK2 was the longest. According to the membership function analysis, the drought resistance order of the tested sainfoin was as follows:P1>P3>P2>CK1>CK2. Principal component analysis indicated average root diamater, proline,and soluble sugar were the most suitable indicators for the tolerance to drought.