Quantification of indole-3-acetic acid and amino acid conjugates in rice by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry.

A method for quantifying indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and its conjugates with the six amino acids, Ala, -Asp, -Ile, -Glu, -Phe and -Val, in rice (Oryza sativa) by using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) is described. Samples from the rice plant or callus were treated with 80% acetone in water containing 2.5 mM diethyl dithiocarbamate. Each extract was partially purified in C18 cartridge column for solid-phase extraction (SPE) and subjected to HPLC-ESI-MS/MS without converting the product. The detection limit was 3.8 fmol for IAA, and 0.4-2.9 fmol for the IAA amino acid conjugates. The method was applied to the analysis of IAA and its conjugates in rice seedlings, dehulled rice and calli, using 20-100 mg tissue samples.