Abstract

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...

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