The fatty acid composition of some Sphagnum species

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Abstract
The fatty acid composition of total lipids was studied in gametophytes of S. fimbriatum, S. majus, S. magellanicum and S. nemoreum cultivated aseptically at a constant temperature of 25.degree. C. It was very similar in these 4 bog mosses, and also fairly similar to that of other bryophytes. The lipid content of these species was about 6% of the weight of the freeze-dried plant material. The fatty acid composition of different lipid fractions (neutral, glyco-, and phospholipids) was studied in S. fimbriatum and S. majus. Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5) is abundant (.apprx. 40%) in the triglycerides, and arachidonic acid (20:4) (30%) in the steryl and methyl ester fraction. Linolenic acid (18:3) formed about 60% of the fatty acids in the mono- and digalactosyl diglycerides. This fatty acid occurs only in low concentrations (.apprx. 10%) in the triglycerides. Palmitic (16:0) and linoleic (18:2) acids are the most important fatty acids of the phospholipids.