Carrageenophytes of occidental Portuguese coast: 1-spectroscopic analysis in eight carrageenophytes from Buarcos bay

Infrared and Raman spectroscopic analysis of the carrageenan (alkaline extraction) in eight species (representing seven genera and four families) of Gigartinales, in different reproductive phases from Buarcos bay (Figueira da Foz, Portugal), were studied. Female gametophytes and non-fertile thalli samples of Chondrus crispus, Mastocarpus stellatus, Chondracanthus teedei var. lusitanicus, Gigartina pistillata and Chondracanthus acicularis present a kappa-carrageenan profile or varying degrees of a kappa-iota hybrid. The presence of kappa-iota hybrid carrageenan in C teedei var. lusitanicus was confirmed by C-13 NMR. The carrageenans extracted from Gymnogongrus crenulatus and Ahnfeltiopsis devoniensis are constituted mainly by iota-carrageenan but seasonal variations in the nature of carrageenans are present. lambda-Family carrageenans were found in tetrasporophytes of C crispus, M. stellatus, C teedei var. lusitanicus, C acicularis and G. pistillata. Calliblepharis jubata presents carrageenans of iota-type in all reproductive stages. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.