To better understand the genetic controls of leaf senescence, a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. SR1) mRNA that is up-regulated during senescence was isolated by the cDNA-amplified restriction fragment polymorphism method and the cDNA was cloned. The mRNA coded for the early light-induced protein (ELIP), a member of the chlorophyll a/b-binding protein family that has been implicated in assembly or repair of the photosynthetic machinery during early chloroplast development and abiotic stress. A protein antigenically recognized by antibodies to ELIP appeared during senescence with kinetics similar to those of its mRNA. The mRNA, designated ELIP-TOB, was detected earlier when senescence was enhanced by leaf detachment and treatment with 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and was detected later when senescence was retarded by benzyladenine. However, no ELIP-TOB mRNA was seen in the dark even though senescence was accelerated under these conditions. Furthermore, water stress and anaerobiosis stimulated the appearance of ELIP-TOB mRNA before losses of chlorophyll could be detected. We discuss the conditions that may lead to the up-regulation of ELIP-TOB during senescence and speculate as to the role of the gene product in this terminal phase of leaf development.