A healthy Croton plant bearing variegated leaves was kept in a dark cupboard to destarch it after which it was placed in sunlight for a few hours. One of the leaves was then plucked and an outline of the leaf marking the green and the non-green regions was drawn. The leaf was then tested for starch. Using the above information, answer the following questions
Why is the leaf boiled in water and alcohol before testing for the presence of starch?

Explanation

(1) The leaf was boiled in water to destroy enzymes so that further chemical changes do not take place in the leaf. (2) To dissolve the chlorophyll.