Leaf color mutants are often accompanied by changes in chlorophyll content and abnormal chloroplast structure. They are important materials to decipher the functions of genes in chloroplast development and photosynthesis. In this study， a naturally occurring mutant 74101 showing etiolated leaves was identified in maize. The mutant showed etiolation throughout the growth period. Compared with the wild type， the total chlorophyll content decreased by 53.38%， and the net photosynthetic rate decreased by 25.63%. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the disordered chloroplast thylakoid structure， with loose matrix lamella and no grana structure. Genetic analysis and fine mapping results showed that the 74101 mutant phenotype was controlled by a pair of recessive nuclear gene， which was delimited in the 76.05 kb physical interval between the markers K-138 and K-27 on the long arm of maize chromosome 5. By sequencing and analyzing four candidate genes in this interval， a C to T mutation at 1126 site of the gene ZmNPPR5 （Zm00001eb252430） encoding PPR protein was identified. Tests for allelism with EMS mutants approved the ZmNPPR5 gene as the causal agent of leaf etiolation phenotype. The subcellular localization suggested that it was expressed in the nucleus. Collectively， this study revealed that ZmNPPR5 has an important function affecting chlorophyll synthesis， which laid a foundation for deciphering the nuclear-localized PPR protein on the regulation of chloroplast development and chlorophyll synthesis.