Determination of Major Phytohormones in Fourteen Different Seaweeds Utilizing SPE-LC-MS/MS

Analysis of plant growth regulators (PGRs) should be approached by considering their extremely low concentrations and serious interfering effects that result from the matrix of various plant tissues. In the current research, the separation and simultaneous determination of different classes of phytohormones in 14 seaweeds collected from Turkey seashores were achieved by using solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass detection method. OASIS HLB (Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance) cartridges were successfully used for SPE process to eliminate the matrix effect and enhance the PGRs including zeatin, benzyl amino purine, indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid and gibberellic acid within partially different polarities. Based on the optimized experimental conditions, the method presented excellent performance related to linearity (r, 0.9996-0.9999) within the ranges of 0.5-500 ng/mL, relative standard deviation values ((1.43-2.01) for intraday and (2.36-3.50) for interday)), the limit of detection (0.01-0.84 μg/L) and the limit of quantification (0.02-2.76 μg/L). The obtained results confirm that the SPE-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method performed is highly effective and convenient for routine analyses of trace amounts of the tested phytohormones in seaweeds and any other plant samples as well.