Distribution and transport of IAA in tomato plants

We determined as to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), endogenous levels byliquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using ¹³C₆-IAA, diffusible levels byfluorometric detection using indole-propionic acid, and polar transportactivityby radioactive IAA in 3-month-old tomato plants (stems, leaves or roots). TheIAA concentration in the apoplast (AP) solution was higher than those in thesymplast (SP) solution in both the upper and lower parts of stems, showing thatIAA analysis of AP solution is important. Younger leaves exported much morediffusible IAA than older leaves. The IAA concentration in the main roots wasalmost at the same level as in the stems. The results suggested that thetransport capacity of IAA is probably the limiting factor for the amount of IAAtransported in stems and the amount of polar IAA transport might be only 19% ofthe endogenous IAA amount in stems.