Laticifers and latex in fruits of periwinkle, <i>Catharanthus roseus</i>

Abstract

Light and electron microscopic observation of laticifers in fruits of periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, revealed cells which after fixation showed an abundance of droplets in vacuoles. The droplets have a rough surface and are electron dense. A comparison of cytoplasm of laticifers and neighboring parenchyma cells indicated varying degrees of degradation of organelles. Degradation visibly affects the nuclei, plastids, and mitochondria. Latex contains electron-dense droplets and some vesiculated cytoplasm with highly degraded organelles interspersed. Vindolinine and 19-epivindolinine, but not vindoline, were found to be the main alkaloids of periwinkle fruit latex.