A simplified method for determining 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in plant tissues using a mass selective detector

A sensitive and specific method is described for the routine assay of the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in 100–200 mg fresh weight samples of green or etiolated tissue. The method involves high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry (GCMS) and uses ¹⁴C-labelled ACC as an internal standard, N-benzoyl n-propyl ACC as an easily prepared derivative for HPLC and GCMS, and N-benzoyl isobutyl ACC as an internal standard for GCMS. The procedure is faster and safer than an existing GCMS method and more specific and reliable than indirect assays widely in use. The method has been used to measure ACC in maize roots, young leaves of cucumber, and aerobic or anaerobic seedlings of rice.