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In vitro Reconstitution of Epicuticular Wax Crystals: Formation of Tubular Aggregates by Long‐Chain Secondary Alkanediols
Author(s) -
Jetter R.,
Riederer M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
botanica acta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 0932-8629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1438-8677.1995.tb00840.x
Subject(s) - wax , epicuticular wax , chemistry , diol , organic chemistry , botany , crystallography , biology
Cuticles of several plant species are covered by tubular wax aggregates that are known to consist mainly of (S)‐nonacosan‐10‐ol. The present work addresses the question whether minor wax components may additionally contribute to these tubules. Thin layer chromatography was used to prepare secondary alkanediol fractions from leaf cuticular waxes of Nelumbo nucifera and Thalictrum flavum , containing nonacosane‐3,10‐diol, nonacosane‐4,10‐diol, nonacosane‐5,10‐diol, nonacosane‐7,10‐diol, nonacosane‐9,10‐diol and nonacosane‐10,13‐diol. From organic solutions all these compounds crystallized in tubular shapes. Possible crystal structures of relevant alkanediol isomers are proposed, in analogy to the lattice geometries of comparable aliphatic compounds. The resulting structural model shows that nonacosan‐10‐ol and various secondary alkanediols may join in metastable mixed crystals. According to the structural model proposed the admixture of alkanediols to nonacosan‐10‐ol aggregates should enhance the stability of their tubular habit.