Abstract

Chromic acid, iodine‐potassium iodide and Dragendorff reagent were employed to identify reactive cells that may indicate sites of alkaloid accumulation in fresh tissues and latex of C. roseus. Laticifers in all parts of the mature plant and certain parenchyma cells in the cortex and pith regions accumulated reaction products of these alkaloid indicators. These same cells showed primary fluorescence, accumulated vital dyes and lipid indicators in excess of other cells, and exhibited a more intense nadi reaction than other cells. Tests on fresh tissues are interpreted to indicate possible qualitative and quantitative differences in alkaloid content between subterranean and aerial portions of the plant and between mature and immature tissues. These studies showed that reactive products are unevenly distributed in cells and organs of the plant and can be microscopically detected only in laticifers and specialized parenchyma cells.

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