(1) Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, casilla 5659, Santiago, 2, Chile;(2) Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile
Abstract:
The second-derivative mode of the Fourier transform I.R. spectra of dried algal material has been applied to distinguish the carrageenans-producingStenogramme interrupta from the isomorphous speciesRhodymenia howeana. Spectra of the tetrasporophyteS. interrupta showed bands assigned to a -carrageenan type polysaccharide, while the gametophytic and cystocarpic plants showed the characteristic absorptions of -and -carrageenans. Results were confirmed by hot water extraction of samples of the three nuclear phases ofS. interrupta and characterization of the extracts by chemical analysis.Author for correspondence