CHAPTER IV 



CAROTENOIDS IN PLANTS 



Cryptogams 



(a) bryophyta and pteridophyta 



No systematic investigations have been carried out on the carotenoids 

 of two of the main groups of cryptogams, the Bryophyta and the 

 Pteridophyta. Kohl, ^ in his pioneer work undertaken at the turn of the 

 century, reported the presence of carotenoids in the following members 

 of these groups : Marchantia polymorpha, Catharinea undulata, Fiinaria 

 hygrometrica, Adianthum spp., Trichomanes radicans, Selaginella 

 mortensii and S. krauseana. 



By implication, the moss Funaria probably contains carotenoids, for 

 the energy required to produce constant chloroplast orientation is least 

 in the region of the spectrum (blue) where carotenoids absorb light 

 maximally. ^ 



Two Pteridophyta, Equisetutn spp. and Selaginella are reported to 

 contain rhodoxanthin ^' *> ^ whilst bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) contains 

 rather less [3-carotene than is usual in green leaves. ^ Carotenoids are 

 present in the spores of the Pteridophyta. '^ 



(b) THALLOPHYTA 



The Thallophyta, which contain the sub-groups, Fungi, Algae, 

 Lichens, and Bacteria, have, with the exception of Lichens, attracted 

 much more attention and, therefore, knowledge of the carotenoids of 

 this group is so considerable that the sub-groups will be treated 

 separately. 



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