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ULTRASTRUCTURE AND RECRYSTALLIZATION OF PLANT EPICUTICULAR WAXES
Author(s) -
JEFFREE C. E.,
BAKER E. A.,
HOLLOWAY P. J.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1975.tb01417.x
Subject(s) - wax , epicuticular wax , recrystallization (geology) , ultrastructure , scanning electron microscope , botany , plant cuticle , extrusion , chemistry , materials science , biology , organic chemistry , composite material , paleontology
SUMMARY A wick feed method was used to recrystallize a range of different plant epicuticular waxes from solutions in organic solvents. Using the scanning electron microscope the ultrastructure of the recrystallized wax from each species was compared with that of the wax on the corresponding intact plant surface and in many cases was found to be similar. It is concluded that the crystal structure of epicuticular waxes is greatly influenced by their inherent chemical and physical properties rather than by properties of the underlying cuticular membrane or by any mechanism of extrusion or transport of the wax to the plant surface.