Freeze-etched surfaces in potato starch

Native and Lintnerized potato starch grains were freeze-fractured and freezeetched. All samples showed a granular surface. The Lintnerized samples, in addition, presented unique structures which have been described as microfibrils. The question, whether the granules and the microfibrils seen here are real structures in the starch grain or artifacts produced by the freeze-etch technique is discussed.