PIGMENT COMPOSITION OF PUTATIVELY ACHLOROPHYLLOUS ANGIOSPERMS

Chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment composition was determined for ten species of putatively achlorophyllous angiosperms using high-performan ce liquid chromatography. Four families were represented: Lennoaceae ( Pholisma arenarium); Monotropaceae (Allotropa virgata, Monotropa unifl ora, Pterospora andromedea, Sarcodes sanguinea); Orobanchaceae (Epifag us virginiana, Orobanche cooperi, O. uniflora); Orchidaceae (Cephalant hera austinae, Corallorhiza maculata). Chlorophyll a was detected in a ll tars, but chlorophyll b was only detected in Corallorhiza maculata. The relative amount of chlorophyll and chlorophyll-related pigments i n these plants is greatly reduced compared to fully autotrophic angios perms.