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

Abstract 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 Kalanchoedaigremontiana . Extraction of this metabolite from different plant organ, 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.