Comparative phytochemical studies of some edaphic algae.

Abstract

To obtain different edaphic algae, different texture and color soil samples were collected from Egypt. Then, the physico-chemical characters of each sample were detected. The collected soil samples were enriched with synthetic nutrient media for algal propagation and identification. Algal diversity of the soil samples gave overall 37 algal taxa (25 genera) that belonging to four algal divisions. These were dominated with Cyanophycophyta (19 taxa, 11 genera) followed by Chlorophycophyta (11 taxa, 7 genera), while Bacillariophycophyta and Xanthophycophyta were represented only by 4 and 3 algal taxa respectively. Then, different isolation strategies and techniques were adopted to isolate some axenic soil algal taxa (Pleurochloris pyrenoidosa Pasch, Botrydiopsis eriensis Snow and Scenedesmus obliquus (Turpin) Kütz). In addition the mass growth of filamentous yellow green alga growing on soil and identified as Vaucheria geminata (Vaucher) De Candolle. The phytochemical compositions of four edaphic algae were evaluated included quantitative estimation of proteins, carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids, pigments and lipids. The qualitative determination of amino acids, sugars, phenols, flavonoids and fatty acids components were carried out. Data showed measurable differences among the investigated algal taxa in their phytochemical composition.