The senescence-promoting substance of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) as detected by the oat (Avena sativa L. cv "Victory") leaf assay has been identified as (-)-methyl jasmonate, methyl (1S, 2R)-3-oxo-2-(2'-cis-pentenyl)-cyclopentane-1-acetate, by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and optical rotatory dispersion. Its senescence-promoting effect was much stronger than that of abscisic acid, and even at such a low concentration as 1 to 2.5 micrograms per milliliter, it could completely eliminate the anti-senescence action of 2 micrograms per milliliter kinetin. Comparing the biological activity of the (-)- with the (+/-)-forms of methyl jasmonate, it seemed that only the (-)-form was biologically active.