This study was conducted to assess the effect of manganese (Mn) treatment on the growth and physiological characters of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. campestris). Seedlings were transplanted to plastic pots filled with soil and then grown in a plastic house. Four treatments with Mn (control, 15 µM, 300 µM, and 1.5 mM) were applied to plants along with half-strength Hoagland solution. The plant growth characters leaf length, leaf size, chlorophyll content, and fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots decreased significantly with high (1.5 mM) Mn treatment. As the concentration of Mn increased, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Cu content in outer leaves decreased, but the concentration of total N, P, and Mn increased significantly. Chlorophyll a decreased significantly with increasing Mn concentration. Maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) was highest (0.893) in the control followed by 15 µM and 300 µM Mn-treated plants, whereas CO2 assimilation decreased with increasing Mn. Total free amino acids also significantly decreased with an increasing Mn. Hence, growth and physiological characters of Chinese cabbage demonstrated tolerance upto 300 µM Mn with nutrient solution in pot culture.Additional key words: chlorophyll content, CO2 assimilation rate, Mn, maximum photochemical efficiency, tolerance, total free amino acid Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 52(3):252-258. 2011.