EXERCISE 9

STARCH SYNTHESIS

A. Role of chlorophyll and light

Species used: Zea mays
Starch test (present/absent)
Beaker A: glucose + etiolated leaf Present
dark incubated
Beaker B: distilled water + etiolated leaf Absent
dark incubated
Beaker C: distilled water + etiolated leaf Present
dark incubated

Discussion:

The set-ups used etiolated leaves which is a result of a plant, in this case corn (Zea mays), which was
grown in poor or in an inadequate amount of light, or none at all ("Etiolated Plant," n.d., p. xx). As observed,
beakers A and C tested positive with starch test while beaker B resulted negative. Etiolated leaves lack
chlorophyll, the green pigment in the chloroplast, which is indirectly needed for the synthesis of starch. However,
when the etiolated leaf was incubated in the dark but soaked in the glucose solution, starch was produced. This
is due to the presence of sufficient amount of soluble carbohydrates (glucose) in the solution which allowed the
positive reaction to the starch test for beaker A indicated by the presence of a black-blue coloration upon addition
of I2KI. Meanwhile, beaker C was able to synthesize starch without the presence of the glucose solution because
it was light incubated which enabled the etioplasts to develop into chloroplasts (Taiz & Zeiger, n.d., p. 508).
Which is also why beaker B tested negative because it was incubated in the dark and there’s no presence of
soluble carbohydrates which are crucial for starch synthesis.

Etiolated Plant. (n.d.). In TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved from

https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Etiolated+Plant

Taiz, L., & Zeiger, E. (n.d.). Cytokinins - Regulator of Cell Division. In Plant Physiology (5th ed., p. 508). Sunderland, MA:
Sinauer Associates Inc., Publishers.

B. Starch production as related to species

leaf Water extract

Starch test Benedict’s test
Papaya + -
Onion - +

Discussion:

Papaya leaves showed positive result to starch test while onion leaves did not. This is because the bulb
of the onion is from modified leaves while photosynthesis takes place in the leaves of an onion
containing chlorophlast. The little glucose produced from this process is converted into starch and
stored in the bulb. Meanwhile, for papaya, its leaves produce starch which is why it tested positive.

Papaya leaves tested negative with Benedict’s test while the onion did not. This indicates that onion
leaves contain small amount of glucose, a reducing sugar, because most of the glucose produced are being
converted into starch and stored in its bulb. However, papaya leaves also contain reducing sugars but tested
negative because of the presence of a great amount of starch, relative to the onion leaves. And since starch is
not a reducing sugar, it needs to be hydrolyzed (catalyzed by strong acids and certain enzymes) first and
broken down into smaller units like glucose before the rings in its structure can open up and react with
Benedict’s reagent.

C. Starch production in variegated leaves

leaf Water extract

Starch test Benedict’s test
Green + -
Non-green - -

Discussion:

The green portion of the leaves is the only one that tested positive with the starch test while the non-
green showed a negative result. This is because only the green portion of the leaves that contain chlorophyll
can make starch in photosynthesis.

Both the green and white part (non-green) of the leaves did not exhibit any reducing sugars as
observed during the Benedict’s test. The green portion contains starch which contains reducing sugars
however, it needs to undergo hydrolysis first and be broken down into its smaller units, glucose – a reducing
sugar, for it to achieve a positive result with the Benedict’s test. The white part of the leaves contains no
reducing sugar/s and does not contain starch unlike the former which is why it tested negative.
STUDY QUESTIONS:

1. Explain why some species do not produce starch in leaves?

2. Plants deficient in phosphorus often accumulate starch in the chloroplast. Explain this observation.

3. Differentiate photosynthesis from starch synthesis based on reactants involved, products formed, key
enzyme involved, and requirment for light and chlorophyll. Present your answers in tabular form.

Photosynthesis Starch synthesis

Reactants involved
Products formed
Key enzyme
Requirements for light
Requirement for chlorophyll