To explore the mechanisms of physiological change in radish fleshy roots at different hollowness levels during the middle and late growth periods, and to provide theoretical basis for the indepth study of hollowness regulation and breeding, we used such three varieties as resistance hollowness variety C70922, not resistance hollowness variety C3156 and medium resistance hollowness variety C83471. Here, the changes of physiological and quality indexes were measured under different hollowness levels of roots, and the cell changes in roots were observed by paraffin section. The results were as follows: (1) the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in different radish varieties reached the highest or lowest in the first grade of hollowness, while activity of peroxidase (POD) and free proline content were the peaks in the second grade hollowness. (2) The contents of soluble sugar and reducing sugar in fleshy roots of different radish varieties reached the maximum value in the third grade hollowness. (3) With the deepening of radish hollowness, soluble starch contents decreased first, then increased and then decreased. (4) The cellulose content in the radish C70922 did not change significantly among different hollow grades, while the cellulose in the radish C3156 and C84371 are reached the highest in the third grade hollowness. (5) Additionally, the accumulation of vitamin C in fleshy roots was closely related to the grade of radish hollow. (6) In the same hollowness grade of fleshy radish roots, as the tolerance of the variety weakened, the individual cells were gradually larger, the arrangement was looser, and the cell wall became thin. As the hollowness grade increased in the same material, more cells were broken and the degree of the cell constriction increased. Therefore, SOD, POD, free proline, cellulose and vitamin C, as well as cell morphology of radish cells changed significantly during the process of hollowing in roots of radish.