FATTY-ACIDS AND POLAR LIPIDS OF SEAGRASSES FROM THE SEA OF JAPAN

The fatty acid and polar lipid composition were determined for three s eagrass species of the subfamily Zosteroideae from the Sea of Japan. T hey were rich in C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and alpha-l inolenic acids) and contained hexadecatrienoic and long-chain saturate d fatty acids (greater-than-or-equal-to C20). The polar lipids consist ed of glycolipids and phospholipids. Analysis of the glycolipids showe d the presence of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglyc erol and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol. The major phospholipids appear ed to be phosphatidylcholine (41.8-43.8%) and phosphatidylethanolamine (22.4-24.3%). N-Acylphosphatidylethanolamine was found only as a mino r component. The phospholipid composition of seagrasses differed from that of seaweeds from the Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta and Chlorophyta. The present results may be useful for taxonomic purposes.