The rooting capacity in young and mature clones of S. sempervirens in vitro after wounding and treatment with indole-3-butyric acid (2.5x10 "5 M IBA) was linked with the characterisation of the hormone levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-related compounds and abscisic acid (ABA) in the bases of cuttings (5 mm long) during the first 4 days of the root inductive period. HPLC-ELISA and MS methods were used.Both clones rooted only in the presence oflBA but theauxin treatment was more efficient with young clone (60%, 10 days after treatment, 3 roots in average) than with mature one (30%, 13 days after treatment, only one root). High levels in IAA and IAA-aspartate (IAAsp) were measured in young clone whereas mature clone accumulated mainly IBA and indole acetonitrile (IAN). IBA treatment had no effect on ABA levels in young clone but induced high accumulation of ABA in mature clone. Hence, the different rooting capacity between clones could be related with quantitative changes in auxin and ABA metabolism.