Quantitative profiling method for phytohormones and betaines in algae by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the quantitative determination of phytohormones and betaines in algae. The results showed that phytohormones and betaines were separated with high efficiency on Hypersil Gold C18 and Cnwsil SCX columns. Mass spectrometric detection was performed using positive or negative electrospray ionization in selective reaction monitoring mode (SRM). Linearity of the method was good with correlation coefficients (r(2) > 0.9951 in the range of 0.005-5 mg/L. The limits of detection were from 0.004 to 0.86 µg/L and the limits of quantification were in the range from 0.01 to 2.8 µg/L for the investigated phytohormones and betaines. The obtained recoveries varied between 61.33 and 90.39%, and the relative standard deviations were <15%. Using the developed methods, seven types of phytohormones and two types of betaines in Laminaria japonica, and seven types of phytohormones and one type of betaine in Pyropia haitanensis, which were collected in Xiangshan, Zhejiang Province, China, were determined. Thus, LC-MS/MS was demonstrated to be a powerful tool for the comprehensive analysis of phytohormones and betaines in algae, owing to its large dynamic range and excellent sensitivity.