Epicuticular wax columns in cultivated Brassica species and in their close wild relatives

Three different types of epicuticular wax columns were found in Brassica species with a chromosome number (n) = 9: long columns (LC), short columns (SC) and netted columns (NC). LC were found in B. incana and B. rupestris. SC were found in B. villosa, B. macrocarpa, B. cretica, B, hilarionis and also in B, montana. B. insularis columns were intermediate. NC waxes were found in B. oleracea and its close allies B. alboglabra and B. bourgeaui. Samples of B. rapa (n = 10) and B. nigra (n = 8) examined did nor show any wax columns but their amphidiploids with B. oleracea (B. napus and B. carinata, respectively) seemed to inherit the NC type of wax present in B, oleracea. (C) 1999 Annals of Botany Company.