Analysis of [¹⁴C] indole‐3‐acetic acid metabolites from the primary roots of Zea mays seedlings using reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography

Methanolic extracts of Zea mays L. cv. Fronica root segments which had been incubated in [ 14 C] indole‐3‐acetie acid were analysed by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. Metabolism of indole‐3‐acetic acid was found to be rapid and extensive with at least 11 products apparent after a 2 h incubation. A comparison of metabolites of [1‐ 14 C]– and [2‐ 14 C] IAA, calculations of 14 CO 2 evolution, and data on the polarity of products indicated that decarboxylation had not occurred. An average of 34% of the radioactivity remained associated with the indole‐3‐acetic acid peak.