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Chemotaxonomic and evolutionary perspectives of Bryophyta based on multivariate analysis of fatty acid fingerprints of Eastern Himalayan mosses

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Abstract

Bryophyta comprises one of the earliest lineages of land plants that had implemented remarkable innovations to their lipid metabolic systems for successful adaptation to terrestrial habitat. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of fatty acid profiles of mosses from Eastern Himalayas with an aim to trace their chemotaxonomic and evolutionary implications. Fatty acid compositions of 40 random mosses belonging to major families of Bryophyta were explored by gas chromatographic analysis. A diverse array of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids including rare acetylenic fatty acids were detected. Hexadecanoic acid (C16:0), 9,12 (Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid (C18:2n6) and 9,12,15 (Z,Z,Z)-octadecatrienoic acid (C18:3n3) were the predominant fatty acids in all the mosses. However, quantitative variation of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), specifically 5,8,11,14 (Z,Z,Z,Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid (C20:4n6), among the investigated mosses was the most prominent outcome. The diplolepidous members of Bryidae, especially the mosses of Hypnales, Bryales and Bartramiales contained higher amount of C20 PUFAs compared with the haplolepidous orders. Principal component analyses based on individual fatty acids and other related parameters validated C20:4n6 content and the ratio of C20:4n6/C18:2n6 as the apparent chemotaxonomic discriminants. The prevalent notion of considering 9,12,15-octadecatrien-6-ynoic acid (C18:4a) as the chemomarker of Dicranaceae has also been challenged, since the compound was detected not only in different families of Dicranales, but also in a Pottiales member, Leptodontium viticulosoides. Therefore, an ensemble of fatty acids instead of a single one can be considered as the chemical signature for taxonomic interpretation which may also be vital from an evolutionary standpoint.

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Data availability

All data generated and analyzed are presented in Supplementary Tables. Raw data can be made available on reasonable request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

AA:

Arachidonic acid (C20:4n6)

AFA:

Acetylenic fatty acid(s)

FA:

Fatty acid(s)

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl ester(s)

GC-MS:

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry

GC-FID:

Gas chromatography flame ionization detector

HP-TLC:

High-performance thin layer chromatography

LA:

Linoleic acid (C18:2n6)

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acid(s)

PA:

Palmitic acid

PCA:

Principal component analysis

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)

SFA:

Saturated fatty acid(s)

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. A. K. Asthana, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, and Dr. Md. Nehal Aziz, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, for authenticating some of the moss samples.

Funding

The authors (ABR and SM) are indebted to University Grants Commission, Government of India, for their fellowships (ABR: UGC-BSR-RFSMS Award No: UGC/1259/RFSMS/BOT dated 24.11.2014; and SM: UGC/851/RFSMS/Botany dated 22.08.2012). The work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of West Bengal (Grant number: 473(Sanc.)/ST/P/S&T/1G-16/2010 dated. 28.10.2010). We would also like to acknowledge the financial support from the University Grants Commission–Centre of Advanced Study (UGC-CAS) and the Department of Science and Technology–Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Higher Educational Institutions (DST- FIST), Government of India, for the instrument facilities provided by the Department of Botany, University of Calcutta.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India

    Mousumi Poddar Sarkar & Jayashree Datta

  2. Department of Botany, Diamond Harbour Women’s University, Diamond Harbour Road, Sarisha, South 24 Parganas, Sarisha, 743368, West Bengal, India

    Anashuya Biswas Raha

  3. Department of Botany, Darjeeling Government College, 19, Lebong Cart Road, Darjeeling, 734101, West Bengal, India

    Souvik Mitra

  4. Department of Botany, Taki Government College, North 24 Parganas, Taki, 743429, West Bengal, India

    Souvik Mitra

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  1. Mousumi Poddar Sarkar
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  2. Anashuya Biswas Raha
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  3. Jayashree Datta
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  4. Souvik Mitra
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Contributions

First author (MPS) designed the experiments, collected samples, analysed the data and also revised the manuscript. Second author (ABR) collected samples and other field data, performed chrmoatographic analysis of lipids of 23 mosses and along with third author (JD) conducted microscopic investigation of the samples for identification. Corresponding author (SM) also collected samples and other field data, conducted chromatographic analysis of lipids of 17 mosses and overall statistical evaluation. He also prepared the draft manuscript.

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Correspondence to Souvik Mitra.

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Poddar Sarkar, M., Biswas Raha, A., Datta, J. et al. Chemotaxonomic and evolutionary perspectives of Bryophyta based on multivariate analysis of fatty acid fingerprints of Eastern Himalayan mosses. Protoplasma 259, 1125–1137 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-021-01723-0

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