No Latex Starch Utilization in Euphorbia esula L.

Utilization of leaf, stem, root, and latex starch was monitored in Euphorbia esula L. plants. Leaf, stem, and root starch decreased rapidly during a 52 day light starvation period while latex starch did not. Scanning electron and light microscope studies provided additional evidence that no changes in latex starch granules had occurred. Amylase activity (6.6 units per milligram protein) could be isolated from latex. However, latex starch granules were extremely resistant to enzymic hydrolysis by latex amylases, Bacillus subtilis alpha-amylase, and by amyloglucosidase from Aspergillus niger. Results indicate that latex starch grains do not function as utilizable carbohydrate in this species under these conditions.