The metabolism of indolebutyric acid (IBA) in hardwood cuttings of grapevine (Vitis vinifera cv. Perlette) and green cuttings of olive (Olea europea cvs. Manzanillo, Kalamata and Koroneiki) was investigated. Radioactive IBA which was synthesized in our laboratory was used in these studies. Cuttings of both olive and grapevine converted IBA to IAA. The identity of IAA was confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. The stability of IBA, its slow transport from the site of application at the base of the cutting and its conversion to IAA in the cutting are probably the factors which make this compound a good root promoter.
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Epstein et al. (1984) studied this question.