Abstract: Aiming at studying the mutagenic effects of electron beam irradiation on maize inbred lines, the seeds of two maize inbred lines‘18-599’and‘K169’were irradiated by electron beam with dose of 200, 300 and 400 Gy. Mutated strains (M3) were obtained from‘18-599’and‘K169’, which contained 32 mutants and 21 mutants respectively, and major agronomic characters of mutant strains as well as the wild type (control) were investigated in the contemporary generation. The results indicated that plant heights of two maize inbred M3 lines were significantly different from the wild type, while the number of ear height with significant difference was less. Mutagenic effects of electron beam irradiation on ear trait were mainly reflected in ear length and number of rows per ear, which showed significant difference between‘18-599’M3 lines and wild type, while mutagenic effects of electron beam irradiation on tassel traits were found to vary with different materials. Electron beam irradiation effects on the change of kernel oil and starch content was more obvious, but kernel protein content showed no significant difference between M3 lines and the wild type. In conclusion, the electron beam irradiation had great effects on morphological mutation in maize and this research could provide a basis for mutation breeding of maize by electron beam irradiation.