Simultaneous Determination of 19 Kinds of Plant Growth Regulator Residues in Berries and Melons by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 19 plant growth regulators in berries and melons by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Samples were pretreated by the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) improved method.The plant growth regulator residues were extracted from the samples by acetonitrile (containing 1% acetic acid), cleaned up with QuEChERS and then analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode.The chromatographic analysis was carried out on a Waters Acquity HSS T3 column with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid solution as the mobile phases in gradient program, and quantified by matrix-matched external standard method. The results showed that, 19 kinds of plant growth regulators showed good linearity when they were in their concentration ranges (r > 0.9902). The limits of detection were within 0.09~16.8 μg/kg and the limits of quantification of the 19 plant growth regulators were within 0.27~50.4 μg/kg. The recoveries of 19 kinds of plant growth regulators were within 69.4%~106.2%, RSD was 1.1%~12.5%.Conclusion:The method was highly sensitive, qualitative and quantitative, easy to be used in the laboratory. It could be used to determine the specific growth regulators in berries and melons.