Primary and Secondary Carotenoids of Spongiochloris typica

A qualitative and quantitative investigation was made of the pigments of Spongiochloris typica over an 8 week period. The pigments were chromatographed on thin layers of sucrose and measured spectrophotometrically. Pigments present after 1 week of growth were identified as chlorophylls a and b, β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, trollein, and neoxanthin. In cultures 2 weeks or more old, secondary carotenoids appeared. These were echinenone, canthaxanthin, astacene, and an unidentified ketocarotenoid. Carotenoids comprised nearly 100 percent of the total pigment composition on the 8th week. About 75 percent of the carotenoid fraction on the 8th week consisted of secondary carotenoids.