STUDIES ON PLANT CUTICLE I. THE WAXY COVERINGS OF LEAVES

The waxy coverings of the leaves of different species of plant have been fractionated into wax, acidic, volatile and oil components. The levels of the waxy deposits on the leaves and the relative proportions of the principal components of the waxy coverings differed widely. Wax predominated in the waxy coverings of the leaves of cabbage and cauliflower and acidic materials in those of apple and pear. The role of ether-soluble acidic constituents in a possible defensive mechanism of leaves against fungi, the contribution of water-soluble acidic constituents to the toxic action of copper fungicides and the influence of the waxy covering on spray deposition, phytotoxicity and the behaviour of DDT deposits on leaves are discussed. Earlier work on the nature of leaf wax components is reviewed.