Localized application of chemicals which inhibit metabolism, anoxia and low temperature have been used as tools in basic research to assess the role of energy metabolism in the various stages of the translocation process. The results of these studies are reviewed in this chapter. In addition to their theoretical implications, these studies of the relationship between energy metabolism and translocation have a number of direct practical applications. There are numerous studies relating altered energy metabolism to the rate and pattern of assimilate translocation in crop plant productivity (Nelson, 1963; Wardlaw, 1968; Loomis, Williams and Hall, 1971). Unfortunately the role of energy from metabolism in assimilate translocation in relation to crop productivity is not well understood. Another practical area supported by studies of metabolic inhibitors and translocation is that of the effect of atmospheric pollutants on translocation of assimilates. Little work has been done to investigate the effect of these agents on assimilate distribution resulting from metabolic inhibition. These and other potentially practical applications depend on a precise understanding of the effect of metabolic inhibitors on translocation.