Extraction, Purification, and Quantitation of Paclobutrazol from Fruit Tree Tissues

Abstract β-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-α-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1 H -1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol (paclobutrazol) is one of a new class of plant growth regulators that affect both vegetative and reproductive components of fruit tree growth (1-3). The movement and fate of absorbed paclobutrazol must be established to better understand its persistence and mode of action. Accordingly, we have developed an analytical method for quantifying low levels of paclobutrazol extracted from plant tissue.