Analysis of abscisins and 3-indolylacetic acid in leaves of Sorghum bicolor by high performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

The growth regulators abscisic acid (ABA), phaseic acid, dihydrophaseic acid, and 3-indolylacetic acid (IAA) have been detected and the levels were measured in extracts of leaves from Sorghum bicolor using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For purification of extracts, columns contained 37- to 75-μm-diameter octadecylsilica. For analysis of the growth regulators, microoctadecylsilica columns were used. Both columns were used in the reverse phase mode. The efficiency and resolution of the microcolumn combined with the high sensitivity of the ultraviolet absorption microcell detector could accurately determine as little as 2 ng of ABA and 6 ng of IAA. The method is suitable for routine analysis of levels of regulators in moderately large numbers of plant extracts.