Abstract:The effect of treatmentwith 50 mg·kg- 1 GA3 solution for 30 min on lignification and endogenous hormone levels in postharvest bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox f. preveynalis) shoots were investigated. Results showed that the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase ( PAL) , cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and peroxidase ( POD) increased initially and declined later during the 30 days storage at 2 ℃. The lignin content and firmness continuously increased, but edible rate decreased gradually. The contents of GA3 and IAA declined continuously, where as ABA content increased firstly and then declined. The activities of PAL, C4H and POD were correlated with the rate of ABA /GA3. Exogenous GA3 treatment increased endogenous level of GA3 content and decreased the rate ofABA /GA3 aswell as inhibited the increase of PAL, C4H and POD activities in bamboo shoots. The firmness and lignin content in GA3 treated bamboo shoot were lower than those of control, while the edible rate was higher than that of control. It is suggested that GA3 treatment retarded lignification through decreasing the rate of ABA /GA3 in postharvest bamboo shoots.