Abstract: Water balance and some physiological indexe changes during vase life in cut gerbera flowers ,especially in the easy-bending sections of the scape , were investigated. The results showed that fresh mass and water content of cut gerbera flowers increased firstly but decreased afterwards ; water absorption dropped consistently ; moisture loss caused by transpiration maintained at a stable level while water saturation deficit rose ; soluble protein content tended to decrease with the upper sections having a higher content than that in the middle and lower scape sections ; MDA content increased constantly ; MDA content in the upper scape sections was lower when compared with that in the middle and lower sections ; no significant differences were detected in coarse fiber content between the middle and upper sections with the lower sections having a much higher content of coarse fiber ; POD activity varied slightly at earlier period but increased dramatically during the later period of vase life ; POD
activity in the upper sections was higher than that in the middle and lower sections. The causes of easy to bend
neck in the middle section of the scape were discussed.

Key words: Gerbera, Cut flower, Bent neck, Water, Physiological