Characterization of Cytokinins and Related Compounds by HPLC

Abstract

In recent years, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has emerged as the chief method for the instrumental analysis of plant growth substances. It is a valuable tool for the separation, identification, and measurement of plant hormones and their metabolites. The combination of rapid analysis, high resolution and, frequently, the elimination of a derivatization step gives HPLC a marked advantage over other methods of separation including paper, thin-layer and gas chromatographies. For example, the use of HPLC for the analysis of cytokinins and their derivatives is superior to the classical technique of gas chromatography, since the liquid mobile phase allows the separation and recovery of cytokinins and their derivatives which are not readily volatilized. In addition, HPLC is to be preferred for molecules which have high polarity, a number of ionic groups, or thermal instability. Cytokinins and their derivatives purified by HPLC are often sufficiently pure for immunoassay or direct introduction into the mass spectrometer as trimethylsilated or permethylated derivatives, since the step using gas chromatography is unnecessary.KeywordsHigh Performance Liquid ChromatographyHigh Performance Liquid Chromatography AnalysisReverse Phase High Performance Liquid ChromatographyPlant Growth SubstanceHigh Performance Liquid Chromatography SeparationThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.