Novel inhibitors of ethylene production in higher plants

Of a number of O-substituted hydroxylamine derivatives, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-a-aminooxy-propionicacid and -aminooxyacetic acid inhibited ethylene productionby etiolated mung bean hypocotyls by 50% at 3 and 6 µmconcentrations, respectively. Their potency is thus similarto that of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (50% inhibition at 2 µM),the most potent inhibitor of ethylene production hitherto known.Methionine partially alleviated inhibition of ethylene productionby a-aminooxy-acetic acid. The results are in agreement withthe postulated involvement of pyridoxal phosphate in ethylenebiosynthesis. (Received August 31, 1979; )