Endogenous indoleacetic acid (IAA) levels of Euphorbia esula L. primary root and root buds were examined at three phenologic stages. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, using '3C4benzene ringj-indole-3-acetic acid as internal standard, were used to measure root bud free and bound IAA levels in vegetative, full flower, and post-flower plants. Highest growth (18, 19). Root buds show the highest regenerative capacity in spring and fall with a significant reduction in regenerative capacity associated with full flower. A number of other plants, which reproduce vegetatively by root buds, show a similar reduction in the capacity of roots to produce new shoots during flowering (6, 7, 9-11, 17, 19, 22, 24).It has been suggested that this reduction in shoot regenerative capacity during flowering is related to increased IAA levels in the root (9,11,23,24). Early attempts to demonstrate a significant increase in root extractable IAA associated with flowering and active shoot growth in Populus tremula L. (9) described (18). After 3 months plantlets were transferred to polyvinyl chloride tubes 0.1 m diameter and 1 m long filled with 50:50 (v/v) mixture of potting soil and sand. Plants used in these experiments were at least 1 year old with root systems extending the entire length ofthe tube. Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions, watered daily, and fertilized once each week with commercial liquid fertilizer (Pete's Professional,