This review is centered around structural and functional (metabolic, genetic) alterations of chloroplasts during foliar senescence. Aged plastids <gerontoplasts) differ in many characters -from their biogenetic precedessors but also from chroniDplasts. It is known that senescing plant organs or cells destined to death are still able to synthesise macromolecules and to perform differential gene expression. Factors controlling leaf senescence, particularly hormonal substances, are included in the discussion about molecular and intracellular aspects of the senescence syndrome in chloroplast-containing cells.