Portuguese carrageenophytes: Carrageenan composition and geographic distribution of eight species (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

Based on the results of the analysis of the carrageenan types, the following conclusions were made: female gametophytes and non-fertile thalli of Chondrus crispus, Mastocarpus stellatus, Chondracanthus teedei var. lusitanicus, Gigartina pistillata, Chondracanthus acicularis and Gymnogongrus crenulatus, presented a varying degrees of kappa-iota hybrid carrageenan (co-polymers of kappa-iota carrageenan). The kappa/iota ratio ranged from 0 to 2.2. The carrageenans extracted from Ahnfeltiopsis devoniensis were mainly iota-carrageenan, but some geographic variations in the composition of carrageenans were found. Calliblepharis jubata contained carrageenans of iota-type in all reproductive stages. Lambda-family carrageenans were found in tetrasporophytes of C. cripus (lambda), M. stellatus (lambda), C. teedei var. lusitanicus (hybrid xi-theta), C. acicularis (hybrid xi-theta) and G. pistillata (hybrid xi-lambda).