Pigment composition of 6 xanthophycean algae and Scenedesmus quadricauda

The pigment composition of 6 xanthophyceae algae (Goniochloris sculpta, Pleurochloris sp., Heterothrix mucicola, Heterothrix sp. 1-3) and Scenedesmus quadricauda (strain GREIFSWALD/15) was investigated. The pigments were analysed using HPLC. In investigated xanthophycean algae the following main pigments were found: neoxanthin (0.013-0.643 % of total dry mass), violaxanthin (0.011-0.662 % of total dry mass), antheraxanthin (0.013-0.596 % of total dry mass), lutein (0.113-3.340 % of total dry mass), zeaxanthin (0.085-0.401 % of total dry mass), chlorophyll a (0.372-3.221 of total dry mass) and beta-carotene (0.016-0.162 % of total dry mass). Expected presence of pigments diatoxanthin and diadinoxanthin in investigated xanthophycean algae was not confirmed. Chlorophyll b was found only in the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda.