1998 Volume 84 Pages 297-308
Column and thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of 72 specimens of Cladonia portentosa from various dune habitats on the Danish Wadden Sea island of Fanø: α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, lycopene-5,6-epoxide, antheraxanthin, lutein epoxide, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, hydroxyechinenone, adonixanthin, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, capsochrome and apo-6'-lycopenal. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 12.05 (specimen no. 8827, group I) to 89.36μg g-1 dry mass (specimen no. 8913, group XVII). The carotenoid composition of the analysed specimens varied to such an extent that the taxonomic significance is negligible. Based on these results and previous papers, the biological role of the carotenoids and their possible use in lichen taxonomy is discussed.