Lipid content in leaves of Deschampsia antarctica from maritime Antartica

Deschampsia antarctica plants were collected in Robert Island, Antarctica, and
frozen in liquid nitrogen. Polar lipids and the composition of fatty acids in
phospholipids and galactolipids were analysed in leaves and roots. Compared to
other Gramineae, no unusual contents in polar lipids and in the degree of no
saturation of fatty acids in most lipid fractions were found. The highest
unsaturation ratio (unsaturated/saturated fatty acids) of 3.3 was found in the
phosphatidylinositol fraction. Although summer environmental temperatures in
Robert Island are usually around 0 degrees, leaves often reach higher
temperatures, which are near their photosynthetic optimum.