Determination of indole-3-acetic acid in plant tissues by capillary electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoresis method with direct fluorimetric detection was developed for the determination of the plant growth regulator indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in plant tissues of Zea mays, Ricinus communis and Kalanchoe daigremontiana. Extraction of this metabolite from different plant organs, leaves and stem was performed with methanol, followed by a solid-phase extraction procedure. The subsequent capillary electrophoresis step with a phosphate buffer and fluorimetric detection provides sufficient sensitivity to determine IAA in these plant samples. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.