GC-MS identification of endogenous gibberellins and gibberellin conjugates as their permethylated derivatives

A convenient method of preparing permethyl derivatives of GAs and GA-glucosides is described using NaH and MeI in DMF. The permethyl derivatives of the glucosides give sharp GC peaks and their MS provide information for the identification of the GA and carbohydrate moieties. The detection and characterization of endogenous GAs and GA-glycosides in pods of Phaseolus coccineus by GC-MS of permethylated extracts are described. Permethylation of carbohydrates, IAA, ABA and cytokinins by the same method is described.