Identification and quantification of carotenoid pigments in aeciospores of the daisy rust fungus, Puccinia distincta.

The yellow-orange colour of aeciospores of the daisy rust fungus, Puccinia distincta, was found to be due to the carotenoid pigments beta,psi-carotene (gamma-carotene) and beta,beta-carotene (beta-carotene), which were identified by means of HPLC-APCI-MS. The combined concentration of beta- and gamma-carotene in the aeciospores was 3.3x10(-15) mol spore(-1) or 6 mol% mol(-1) total fatty acids. This concentration is sufficient for a postulated antioxidant role of carotenoids as free radical scavengers.