Apoptotic cell death in suspension cultures of Taxus cuspidata induced by exogenous salicylic acid and/or H2O2 was investigated. H2O2 (0.012% v/v) alone changed the permeability of cell membrane while salicylic acid (0.375 mM) not only altered the permeability but also caused nuclei condensation and a small amount of nuclei fragments. The combined use of salicylic acid (0.375 mM) and H2O2 (0.012% v/v) changed the cell membrane permeability more significantly and nuclei fragments occurred in ca. 30% of the cells at 48 h. DNA ladders of 180 bp and oligopolymers, characteristics of the apoptotic cleavage of nuclei DNA, were observed by agar electrophoresis. These results show that exogenous salicylic acid and H2O2 could synergistically induce the apoptotic cell death of suspension cultures of Taxus cuspidata.