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Effects of two pretreatments, i.e., ultrasonic wave (UW) and ultrasonic wave plus preservative solution (UW+PS), on water conditions of flower stem and membrane stability of petals in Nymphaea tetragona during 6-d cold wet storage. Compared with no pretreatment control, the two pretreatments prolonged the vase life and improved water conditions of the cut flower during cold storage to different degrees. Fresh weight of flower stems and relative water content of petals increased during cold storage. The water utilization efficiency of flower stem and water potential in different parts of flower stem were improved significantly as a result of the pretreatments. Although both pretreatments helped the cut flowers maintain favorable water relations, the effects of UW + PS combined pretreatment were better than UW pretreatment alone. In addition, UW and UW+PS inhibited the increase in the contents of lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide anion in petals. UW + PS promoted superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in petals during cold storage to a greater degree than did UW.