The Effect of Growth Conditions on the Composition of the Soluble Cuticular Lipids and the Water Permeability of Isolated Cuticular Membranes of Citrus Aurantium L.

Abstract

The cuticular membrane is the interphase between all above-ground primary parts of higher plants and the atmospheric environment. Organic compounds with low volatility and inorganic ions leaving or entering primary parts of plants have to cross this barrier. The transport properties of cuticles have been found to be determined almost exclusively by wax-like cuticular lipids which are embedded within the cutin matrix or deposited on the outer surface of the cuticle. In contrast to the insoluble lipid polymer cutin made up of cross-linked hydroxy- and epoxyalkanoic acids, the cuticular waxes can be removed by organic solvents and thus are also called soluble cuticular lipids (SCL).

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The help provided by Dr. R. Winkler, H. Krause and G. Schneider in identifying SCL components is gratefully acknowledged.