Abstract:Phospholipase D (PLD) is an important phospholipid hydrolase prevalently existing in plant cells. PLD plays an important role in regulation of many critical cellular functions, including regulation of cell membrane reconstruction, cellular signal transduction, intracellular regulation, cellular backbone formation, defense responses, seed germination and plant senescence, etc. The basic characteristic of PLD, differential expression pattern of PLD gene and senescence-related physiological and biochemical processes involving PLD were comprehensively reviewed. The relationship between PLD activity inhibition and senescence was discussed, as well as the research direction of PLD gene in the future was prospected.