Using sodium nitroprusside(SNP) as a nitric oxide(NO) donor,the effects of different concentrations of nitric oxide treatment(0.01,0.05,0.1,0.2,0.4,0.6mmol/L SNP) on the preservation of shelf life of green asparagus(Grand) were studied.The results showed that the treatment with 0.2mmol/L SNP was the best.It could inhibit the decrease of total sugar,titratable acid and chlorophyll content,and increase the ability to scavenge oxygen radicals.Treatment with 0.4mmol/L SNP could inhibit the decrease of titratable acid,vitamin C and chlorophyll content of green asparagus,but decreased scavenging ability of oxygen radicals.Treatment with 0.6mmol/L SNP reduced the content of total sugar,and vitamin C of green asparagus.But the effect of chlorophyll content and oxygen radical-scavenging ability were not significant in comparison with CK.Therefore,It was considered NO released from 0.2 mmol/L SNP aqueous solution could increase the shelf life of green asparagus.