HIGH CONTENTS OF HOMO-ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID (20-3-OMEGA-3) IN GAMETOPHORES OF 2 MOSSES

Brown and green parts of the gametophore of Pogonatum urnigerum and Fissidens adianthoides contained much higher proportions of free fatty acids (ca 50% of total lipids), but lower concentrations of hydrocarbons, steryl esters, sterols and triacylglycerols than the sporophyte. The free fatty acids in gametophores from both mosses consisted of more than 90% homo-alpha-linolenic acid (20:3 omega-3). Other lipid classes, especially the typical chloroplast and membrane components contained little of this fatty acid, and contained instead, considerable proportions of arachidonic acid (20:4 omega-6).