LIPID-COMPOSITION OF SOME LICHENS

Five lichen species from the subclass Gymnocarpeae, or Discolichenes, growing in the Volga river basin were examined for their fatty acid compositions using capillary GC-MS. Seventy-three fatty acids were identified: 24 saturated, 25 monoene, five diene, 11 triene and eight tetra-, penta- and hexaene. Very long-chain fatty acids: 26:0, 26:1(n-11), 26:3(n-3),27:1, 28:1 and 30:1 were also identified. The total lipid content varied from 18 to 34 mg g-1 dry wt. The phospholipid compositions of the same species were studied. Phospholipids were found to vary from 17 to 31% of the total lipid. Among the phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine had the highest concentration, varying from 37 to 61%.