Abstract: Using SNP as a donor of exogenous NO, cut gerbera variety Yangguanghaian was treated by vase solution of 0, 10, 100, 500 μmol·L-1 SNP. Meanwhile, the activities of antixoidase SOD, POD, CAT and the content of H2O2, MDA and soluble protein were investigated in petals. It showed that the vase life of cut gerbera was extended by 31.4% with the 100 μmol·L-1 SNP solution. The activities of SOD, POD, CAT and the concentration of soluble protein in petals increased. Meanwhile, the concentrations of H2O2, MDA were reduced by exogenous NO. In summary, the senescence of cut gerbera petals was delayed by exogenous NO in this study．

Key words: gerbera, SNP, preservation, antioxidase, senescence