The cuticular wax layer covers the aerial surface of plants and acts as a barrier between plants and the environment. The cuticle plays a key role in the protection of plants from pathogens, UV light, and transpiration. Variation in the wax quality and quantity is influenced by factors like the solvent used for extraction, species, ontogeny, and season. | Turkish Journal of Botany Turk J Bot (2018) 42: 135-149 © TÜBİTAK doi: Review Article Properties, variations, roles, and potential applications of epicuticular wax: a review 1 1 2 1, Priyal SHARMA , Shankar Lal KOTHARI , Mahender Singh RATHORE , Vinod Singh GOUR * 1 Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India 2 Basic Tasar Silkworm Seed Organization, Central Silk Board, Bilaspur, India Received: Accepted/Published Online: Final Version: Abstract: The cuticular wax layer covers the aerial surface of plants and acts as a barrier between plants and the environment. The cuticle plays a key role in the protection of plants from pathogens, UV light, and transpiration. Variation in the wax quality and quantity is influenced by factors like the solvent used for extraction, species, ontogeny, and season. Compounds isolated from the cuticle layer have been studied by various methods and were found to play an important role from the ecological and physiological points of view. These compounds include esters, alcohols, ether, alkane, and aldehydes. Nonpolar compounds help reduce water loss in plants. The wax can be explored for its potential applications in developing sustainable green packaging material. This review article will facilitate biologists and nonbiologists to get comprehensive and updated knowledge about various aspects of cuticular wax including its chemical composition and variations among different species and seasons. Further studies of the wax composition will pave the way for classification of plant species and an understanding of plant protection from biotic and abiotic stresses. Key words: Cuticle, protection, lotus effect, chemical composition 1. Introduction The aerial plant surface is usually covered with a hydrophobic material called epicuticular wax. This waxy layer is an active interface between a plant and the .
