Properties, variations, roles, and potential applications of epicuticular wax: a review

Abstract

The cuticular wax layer covers the aerial surface of plants and acts as a barrier between plants and the environment. The cuticleplays a key role in the protection of plants from pathogens, UV light, and transpiration. Variation in the wax quality and quantity isinfluenced by factors like the solvent used for extraction, species, ontogeny, and season. Compounds isolated from the cuticle layer havebeen studied by various methods and were found to play an important role from the ecological and physiological points of view. Thesecompounds include esters, alcohols, ether, alkane, and aldehydes. Nonpolar compounds help reduce water loss in plants. The wax can beexplored for its potential applications in developing sustainable green packaging material. This review article will facilitate biologists andnonbiologists to get comprehensive and updated knowledge about various aspects of cuticular wax including its chemical compositionand variations among different species and seasons. Further studies of the wax composition will pave the way for classification of plantspecies and an understanding of plant protection from biotic and abiotic stresses.