STEROLS AND FATTY ACIDS COMPOSITION OF CHAROPHYTES IN RELATION TO SOME OTHER GREEN PLANTS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Botany Department, Faculty of Science. Alexandria University, Egypt

Abstract

Sterols and fatty acids composition of some members of green algae were analysed as tools for chemotaxonomy. Nearly from the orders of green algae, at least a representative member was chosen as a basic model for the order. Some bryophytan members were also studied for convenience. Owing to the debatable systematic position of Vaucheria it was also chosen and analysed together with the members of Chlorophyta.
The data obtained suggested an obvious relation between members of Chara and chlorophytes rather than between members of Chara andbryophytes. Members of Chara might be therefore considered to be green algae under a separate order Charales”, at the top of the orders in the green algae of the division of Chlorophyta. The results stand strongly against the idea that members of charophytes must be elevated to the rank of class or phyla. The data proved also that the sequence of the top three orders in Chlorophyta must be arranged as follows: Conjugales, Siphonales & Charales. Finally Vaucheria was found to be distant from Chlorophyta.