NATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CAROTENOIDS IN THE XANTHOPHYTA (HETEROKONTAE)

Abstract

SUMMARY The carotenoids of nine heterokonts grown in axenic culture , Vischeria sp. , Heterococcus fuorensis, Bumilliopsis brevis, Ophiocytum majus, Chlorocoster engaginalis, Heterothrix debelis, Tribonema aequale, Chloriclella neglecta, and Botrydiopsis alpina, are qualitatively the same. The pigments have been identified as β‐carotene and three xanthophylls, antheraxanthin, lutein 5 ,6‐epoxide and an unidentified compound which is possibly a hydroxy derivative of lutein, 5,6‐epoxide, trollixanthin. The significance of these observations in relation to algal phylogeny is briefly discussed.