Phytohormone analysis

Plant hormones are a heterogeneous group of small molecules, which are involved in the regulation of plant growth, development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses.

The analysis of phytohormones in the complex matrix of plant tissues has been realized by using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The method provides analysis of about 6 phytohormones and other signaling compounds as well as its oxidized and/or conjugated derivatives (in total appr. 50 metabolites). The quantification occurs up to sub picomolar levels per gram fresh weight by using deuterium-labelled standards and calibration curves of intensity (m/z) ratios of [unlabeled]/[deuterium-labeled] vs. molar amounts of the respective unlabeled standards (0.3-1000 pmol).