New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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1970] 647 AN ANALYSIS OF AMINO ACIDS IN NEW ZEALAND SPECIES OF DOODIA (BLECHNACEAE)

P. J. Peterson

Applied Biochemistry Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North

and

B. S. Parris*

Department of Botany, University of Auckland, Auckland

Abstract Qualitative and quantitative amino acid analyses have been carried out, by two dimensional chromatography, on the soluble amino acids in fronds of Doodia media R. Br., D. caudata (Cav.) R. Br., and hybrids collected from three localities. Fronds of D. media var. milnei (Carr.) Baker from the Kerrnadec Islands and D. aspera R. Br. from Australia were also examined. To eliminate environmental effects, plants were grown in a glasshouse before fronds were taken for analysis. For comparison with amino acid data, frond lengths were also measured.Doodia caudata could be distinguished by a high concentration of an unusual amino acid and a high ratio of glutamine/glutamic acid. The unusual amino acid could not be detected in D. media fronds which had a low ratio of glutamine/ glutamic acid. Hybrids were approximately intermediate in these characters. The amino acid composition of D. aspera was closely similar to D. media and D. media var. milnei.These findings are discussed in relation to the usefulness of the method for classification of Doodia species.

(Received for publication 13 May 1970) N.Z. Jl Bot. 8: 647-57.

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