The elongated laticifer starch grains of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. `Eckespoint C-1 Red' were studied to evaluate compositional and structural properties on grain nonutilization by the laticifer cell. Carbohydrate components were studied specifically. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of acid hydrolysates of laticifer starch showed it to be a polyglucan. Solubilized laticifer starch was hydrolyzed readily by α-amylase. Amylose content was ca. 30%. Crystallinity of the starch grains by X-ray diffraction was B-type, typical of starch grains in root and tuber storage tissues. Laticifer starch grains were significantly less soluble in anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide than other B-type starch grains and were rapidly hydrolyzed by α-amylase. The array of properties of laticifer starch grains is distinctive among B-type starch grains and indicates an unusually strong molecular association within the grain. However, our results indicate that neither the starch composition nor structure in these grains prevents its utilization in vivo.
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Spilatro et al. (1985) studied this question.
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