Detection and Quantification of Some Plant Growth Regulators in a Seaweed-Based Foliar Spray Employing a Mass Spectrometric Technique sans Chromatographic Separation

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2010-04, Vol.58 (8), p.4594-4601
• Main Authors: Prasad, Kamalesh, Das, Arun Kumar, Oza, Mihir Deepak, Brahmbhatt, Harshad, Siddhanta, Arup Kumar, Meena, Ramavatar, Eswaran, Karuppanan, Rajyaguru, Mahesh Rameshchandra, Ghosh, Pushpito Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Methods; Biological and medical sciences; chromatography; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; detection; Fish and seafood industries; foliar spraying; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Kappaphycus alvarezii; leaves; macroalgae; mass spectrometry; Methods of analysis, processing and quality control, regulation, standards; plant growth; Plant Growth Regulators - analysis; plant growth substances; quantitative analysis; Rhodophycota; sap; Seaweed - chemistry; separation; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization - methods; Tandem Mass Spectrometry - methods
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf904500e

The sap expelled from the fresh harvest of Kappaphycus alvarezii, a red seaweed growing in tropical waters, has been reported to be a potent foliar spray. Tandem mass spectrometry of various organic extracts of the sap confirmed the presence of the plant growth regulators (PGRs) indole 3-acetic acid, gibberellin GA3, kinetin, and zeatin. These PGRs were quantified in fresh state and after 1 year of storage by ESI-MS without recourse to chromatographic separation. Quantification was validated against HPLC data. The results may be useful in correlating with the efficacy of the sap. The methodology was extended to two other seaweeds. The method developed is convenient and precise and may find application in other agricultural formulations containing these growth hormones.