Fractionation of Gibberellins in Plant Extracts by Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

In studies on endogenous plant gibberellins (GAs), reverse phase (Bondapak C₁₈) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has proved to be a useful method for the fractionation of plant extracts. The behavior of 18 authentic GAs in such a chromatographic system is described. The main factors determining chromatographic behavior are the degree and the position of hydroxylation of the GA. Generally, dihydroxylated GAs elute before monohydroxylated GAs, whereas 13-hydroxylated GAs elute before 3-hydroxylated GAs. The number of carboxyl groups and the degree of saturation of the A-ring have little effect. For 20-carbon GAs, the oxidation state at C-20 is only relevant insofar as GAs having a methyl group at this position elute later than those with other groups (lactone, aldehyde, or carboxyl).