Inhibition of Leaf Processes by p-Fluorophenylalanine During Induction of Flowering in the Cocklebur

The amino acid antimetabolite, DL-p-fluorophenylalanine (FPA), inhibited induction of flowering in the short-day cocklebur plant, Xanthium pensylvanicum Wall., primarily by interfering with processes occurring during the inductive dark period. At the concentrations used the inhibitor had little effect on subsequent vegetative development of the plant.The inhibition was largely reversed (internally) by L-phenylalanine, but not by D-phenylalanine nor by DL-tyrosine. The FPA strongly inhibited the absorption of labeled phenylalanine, leucine, and glycine, and inhibited the conversion of phenylalanine into protein in experiments where incorporation was separated in time from effects upon absorption. The FPA, too, was incorporated into protein, at nearly half the rate of phenylalanine. Neither D- nor L-phenylalanine significantly interfered with absorption of FPA, showing the FPA did not affect amino acid absorption by simple competition for a common carrier site. It was concluded that FPA may affect flower induction because of its interference with normal enzyme synthesis, although effects on other processes might also be involved.