Analysis of multiple-phytohormones during fruit development in strawberry by using miniaturized dispersive solid-phase extraction based on ionic liquid-functionalized carbon fibers

Abstract In the present document, we report a novel miniaturized dispersive solid-phase extraction based on carbon fibers functionalized with ionic liquid for the determination of multiple-phytohormones and investigation on temporal distribution of phytohormones during the development in strawberry. 1-(3-Aminopropyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide was modified on the carbon fibers by using covalent functionalization to prepare ionic liquid-carbon fibers (IL-CFs). It contains the structural feature suitable for the simultaneous extraction of a variety of phytohormones. The main experimental parameters were optimized, and the method was used to determine phytohormones during fruit development in strawberries. The limits of detection and quantification of the proposed method were found to be in the range of 0.00330-0.283 ng mL−1 and 0.0110-0.944 ng mL−1, respectively. All the relative recoveries were in the range of 81.7 to 121.4% with RSD ≤ 10.0% (n = 3). This report highlighted the level changes of multiple-phytohormones during different developmental stages in strawberries. The level of cytokinins and ABA increased as strawberry fruits ripened, while IAA content steadily decreased. Meanwhile GA7 level was relatively stable in all stages, and SA level exhibited fluctuations.