Pigment synthesis in Cucurbita moschata cotyledons as influenced by CPTA and several inhibitors

2-(4-Chlorophenylthio) triethylamine hydrochloride (CPTA) inducedthe accumulation of a number of carotenes in pumpkin (Cucurbitamoschata) cotyledons, a tissue which does not normally accumulatethese pigments. Lycopene accumulated concomitantly with a decreasein -carotene and ß-carotene. CPTA appeared to inhibitcyclases involved in the synthesis of -carotene and ß-caroteneand to stimulate enzymes involved in lycopene synthesis. Cycloheximidereduced this CPTA induced enzyme synthesis while diphenylaminereduced CPTA induced carotene accumulation. Actinomycin D alonereduced accumulation of carotenes, but it did not affect CPTAinduced carotene accumulation. Rather lutein, violoxanthin andneoxanthin decreased and -carotene and ß-caroteneaccumulated. ¹Present address: Morioka Branch, Vegetable and Ornamental CropsResearch Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Shimokuriyagawa,Morioka, Japan. (Received August 12, 1974; )