A length of 2 406 bp cDNA was isolated from Luffa cylindrical by using Race and RT-PCR techniques,which contained a 2 145 bp open reading frame(ORF)that encoded 715 amino acids,with a predicted molecular weight of 77.69 kD and a hypothetical isoelectric point of 6.11. It shared over 93% identity with the homologous proteins from Cucumis sativus and Cucumis melo,proving that it was highly conservative. This gene was named LcPAL and the GenBank accession was KP341758. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that LcPAL and PAL of Cucumis sativus and Cucumis melo was gather to a same group. Wolf Psort protection indicated that LcPAL protein was located in chloroplast or endoplasmic reticulum,and Motif Scan analysis showed that LcPAL protein had three conserved domain databases (i.e., PAL-HAL,PLN02457 and phe_aml_yase)and an enzyme active center sequences in the position of 60 ~ 525,8 ~ 715,24 ~ 715 and 197 ~ 212 Sites,respectively,which suggested that LcPAL protein was one of typical Lyase_I_Like superfamily. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that LcPAL could be expressed in different tissues of Luffa cylindrical, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits. The levels of LcPAL were different among eight luffa varieties,and the expression in Luffa cylindrical was higher than that in Luffa acutangula Roxb. What is more, the expression level of LcPAL in‘Minsi 3’was up-regulated in the early, and then decreased during fresh-cut and post-harvest storage browning processes,which was consistent with the changes observed in peroxidase activity,suggesting that LcPAL gene may play a regulation role in luffa browning process.