6,10,14-Trimethylpentadecan-2-one, 3-methylidene-7,11,15-trimethylhexadecan-1,2-diol, (Z and E) 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,3-epoxyhexadecanols, (Z and E) 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,3-epoxyhexadecanals and (Z and E) 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-2-enals were unambiguously identified in attached leaves of senescing Avena sativa collected during late summer. These isoprenoid compounds result from the photooxidation of the chlorophyll phytyl chain during senescence. in vitro dark and light-induced senescence experiments carried out with Petroselinum sativum confirmed these results.