INHIBITION OF ANTHOCYANIN FORMATION IN SEEDLINGS AND FLOWERS BY THE ENANTIOMERS OF "ALPHA-AMINOOXY-BETA-PHENYLPROPIONIC ACID AND THEIR N-BENZYLOXYCARBONYL DERIVATIVES

Both enantiomers of α-aminooxy-β-phenylpropionic acid (AOPP), potent inhibitors of L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and their N-benzyloxycarbonyl (N-BOC) derivatives inhibit anthocyanin formation in developing flowers of Ipomoea tricolor Cav. and Catharanthus roseus Don. as well as in seedlings of Brassica oleracea var. caulo-rapa DC (kohlrabi) and B. oleracea var. capitata L. (red cabbage) with little interference with their normal development. Kohlrabi seedlings tolerate up to 0.3 mM L-AOPP and N-BOC-L-AOPP without a reduction of fresh weight or chlorophyll content, while anthocyanin is reduced to less than 20%. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.