Abstract:When detached leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) were treated with AsA, NADPH and DTT solution, the xanthophyll cycle and non-radiative energy dissipation (NRD) all changed correspondingly in certain degree. 20 mmol/L AsA could markedly promote the deepoxidation of violaxanthin (V) to zeaxanthin (Z) via antheraxanthin (A), the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) value and Fv/Fm both apparently increased, but Z is easily to be saturated under high light (>650 μmol m-2s-1). 5 mmol/L DTT inhibited the formation of Z significantly，and slightly affected A content．In the same condition．the NPQ value and Fv/Fm of maize leaves all rapidly decreased．0.5 mmol/L NADPH also inhibited the transformation of V to Z， but this effect was reduced under hight 1ight condition．The corresponding NPQ value and Fv/Fm all decreased following the decrease of Z．In summary，this three kinds of treatments all affected the NRD through changing the contents of Z and A，but not the size of xanthophyll pool．