Constituting the final growth phase during the lifecycle of maize (Zea Mays L.), leaf senescence plays an important biological role in grain yield in crops. We undertook proteomic and physiological analyses in inbred line Yu816 in order to unravel the underlying mechanisms of leaf senescence induced by preventing pollination. A total of 6,941 proteins were identified by Isobaric tags for Relative and Absolute Quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis. Proteomic analyses between pollinated (POL) and non-pollinated (NONPOL) plants indicated that 973 different proteins accumulated in NONPOL plants. The accumulated proteins were classified into various groups, including response to stimuli, cellular processes, cell death and metabolic processes using functional analysis. Furthermore, in accordance with the changes in these different accumulated proteins, analysis of changes in leaf total soluble sugars and starch content showed that the prevention of pollination can disturb endogenousplant hormone and sugar metabolism and lead to ROS bursts, protein degradation and photosystem breakdown, eventually resulting in leaf senescence. This represents the first attempt at global proteome profiling in response to induced leaf senescence by preventing pollination in maize, and provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in induced leaf senescence.Constituting the final growth phase during the lifecycle of maize (Zea Mays L.), leaf senescence plays an important biological role in grain yield in crops. We undertook proteomic and physiological analyses in inbred line Yu816 in order to unravel the underlying mechanisms of leaf senescence induced by preventing pollination. A total of 6,941 proteins were identified by Isobaric tags for Relative and Absolute Quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis. Proteomic analyses between pollinated (POL) and non-pollinated (NONPOL) plants indicated that 973 different proteins accumulated in NONPOL plants. The accumulated proteins were classified into various groups, including response to stimuli, cellular processes, cell death and metabolic processes using functional analysis. Furthermore, in accordance with the changes in these different accumulated proteins, analysis of changes in leaf total soluble sugars and starch content showed that the prevention of pollination can disturb endogenousplant hormone and sugar metabolism and lead to ROS bursts, protein degradation and photosystem breakdown, eventually resulting in leaf senescence. This represents the first attempt at global proteome profiling in response to induced leaf senescence by preventing pollination in maize, and provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in induced leaf senescence.