In spite of the development of highly sophisticated instrument, the precise quantitation of plant hormones still has many difficulties. Due to their high specificity, sensitivity and minimal sample purification steps, immunological assays have been widely applied for plant hormone assay. Enzme-linked immunosorbent assay technique for the determination of plant hormones was developed by Voller in 1978. Immunological assays are accomplished by competition of labeled tracer antigen and unlabeled antigen for a limited number of specific antibodies. The use of enzyme as replacement labels for radioisotopes enabled much of the sensitivity and specificity of radioimmunoassay (RIA) to be retained but without the inherent disadvantage of high capital cost, potential health hazard, and short shelf life of the labeled reactants.

• 盧基安(농업기술연구소 영양생리과) | 노기안