Patterns of photoassimilatory products in Pacific Rhodophyceae

Abstract

The typical patterns of 14C-labelled photoassimilatory products of 54 species of Pacific Rhodophyceae (representing 43 genera and six orders) have been compared. Certain heterosides, 2-O-D-glycerol-α-D-galactopyranoside (= floridoside) and 2-D-glycerate-α-D-mannopyranoside (= digeneaside) are the most strongly 14C-labelled accumulated low-molecular-weight carbohydrates of the species investigated. The occurrences of [14C]floridoside and [14C]digeneaside are mutually exclusive; while digeneaside has been found in representatives of the Ceramiales only, floridoside is recorded from species of all other rhodophycean orders. The results are discussed with emphasis on the chemotaxonomy of the Rhodophyceae.