Abstract
The present study describes the anatomy, distribution, morphology and ultrastructure of laticifer system in the phylloclades of Euphorbia caducifolia Haines (Family Euphorbiaceae), a potential biofuel yielding, Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) plant for the first time using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Histochemical tests were performed to identify the principal components of latex using a variety of stains. In cross section, the phylloclade is composed of four distinct regions: the epidermis, cortex, vascular cylinder and pith. The phylloclade anatomy indicated xeromorphic characters and provided an insight about its capacity to grow with very little rainfall and/or inputs on dry or marginal lands. Non-articulated laticifers are present in the cortex, vascular cylinder and pith, but their frequency varies with the tissue type. Highest laticifer frequency was observed in vascular cylinder (9.6%) followed by cortex (3.9%) and pith regions (1.9%). In contrast, laticifer index was found to be higher in the pith (12.7%) followed by cortex (3.8%) and vascular cylinder (2.3%). The discovery of a system of laticifers in E. caducifolia not described earlier could also be of taxonomic value. The histo-chemical tests revealed the presence of lipids, phenols, flavonoids, protein and starch in laticifer. As described by TEM observations laticifers contained distinct cell wall, nucleus and cytoplasm with ribosomes, small and big vacuoles, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, plastids and osmophilic bodies. The lipophilic compounds present in the latex of this species could be used as chemical feedstock for the production of biofuels.
Highlights
The depletion of oil resources and the negative environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels have renewed interest for the production and use of liquid biofuels more from locally available biomass feedstocks
Appropriate material was available throughout the whole year, for electron microscopy the phylloclades collected exclusively in November - December months used for the description of laticifer distribution, morphology and ultrastructure
Results from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of laticifer and surrounding tissues revealed that laticifer ultrastructure is distinct from neighboring cells
Summary
The depletion of oil resources and the negative environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels have renewed interest for the production and use of liquid biofuels more from locally available biomass feedstocks. The plants with high water use efficiency, local adaptability, drought stress tolerance and having requirement of minimum agronomic inputs are considered to be suitable biomass feedstocks for biofuel production. Many species are more or less succulent and growing mostly in the tropical and sub tropical regions of the world [2]. This genus is divided into two sub genera viz., Euphorbia and Chamaesyce based on the type of the carbon metabolism. Species like E. antiquorum Linn, E. antisyphilitica Zucc, E. lathyris Linn, E. tirucalli Linn, E. caducifolia Haines, E. neerifolia Linn and E. royleana Boiss have already been examined as potential feedstocks for biofuel production [4,5,6,7]. Despite the fact that Euphorbia species are interesting from a biofuel, medicinal and pharmacological point of view, the majority of wild growing species of this genus are still biologically, phytochemically and pharmacologically uninvestigated
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