Abstract
Combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been used to identify indole-3-methanol in a purified buffer extract from etiolated seedlings of Pinus sylvestris L. Quantitative estimates obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, corrected for losses occurring during purification, indicated that etiolated seedlings of P. sylvestris contained 19.7 +/- 1.4 nanograms (+/- standard deviation) indole-3-methanol per gram fresh weight. The stability of indole-3-methanol at different pH levels was investigated. The rate of conversion, to a less polar unidentified substance, was enhanced with increasing acidity.