Biology of the Plant Cuticle
A much clearer picture is now emerging of the fine structure of the plant cuticle and its surface, the composition of cuticular waxes and the biosynthetic pathways leading to them. Studies assessing the impact of UV radiation on plant life have emphasized the role of the cuticle and underlying epidermis as optical filters for solar radiation. The field concerned with the diffusive transport of lipophilic organic non-electrolytes across the plant cuticle has reached a state of maturity. A new paradigm has recently been proposed for the diffusion of polar compounds and water across the cuticle. In the context of plant ecophysiology, cuticular transpiration can now be placed in the perspective of whole-leaf water relations. New and unexpected roles have been assigned to the cuticle in plant development and pollen-stigma interactions. Finally, much progress has been made in understanding the cuticle as a specific and extraordinary substrate for the interactions of the plant with microorganisms, fungi and insects.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Biology of the plant cuticle.
Markus Riederer, Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
2. The fine structure of the plant cuticle.
Christopher E. Jeffree, Science Faculty Electron Microscope Facility, Edinburgh, UK.
3. The cutin biopolymer matrix.
Ruth E. Shark and Shiying Tian, Department of Chemistry and Institute for Macromolecular Assemblies, City University of New York, College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314-6600, USA.
4. Composition of plant cuticular waxes.
Reinhard Jetter, Departments of Botany and Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Ljerka Kunst and A. Lacey Samuels, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
5. Biosynthesis and transport of plant cuticular waxes.
Ljerka Kunst, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Dr Reinhard Jetter, Departments of Botany and Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; and A. Lacey Samuels, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
6. Optical properties of plant surfaces.
Erhard E. Pfündel, Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Giovanni Agati, Istituto di Fisica Applicata, Firenze, Italy; and Zoran G. Cerovic, LURE-CNRS, Orsay, France.
7. Transport of lipophilic non-electrolytes across the cuticle.
Markus Riederer, Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; and Adrian A. Friedmann, Syngenta Inc, Bracknell, Berkshire, UK.
8. Characterisation of polar paths of transport in plant cuticles.
Lukas Schreiber, Ökophysiologie der Pflanzen, Botanisches Institut, Bonn, Germany.
9. Cuticular transpiration.
Markus Burghardt and Markus Riederer, Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, 082 Würzburg, Germany.
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10. The cuticle and cellular interactions.
Hirokazu Tanaka and Yasunori Machida, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
11. Microbial communities in the phyllosphere.
Johan H. J. Leveau, Centre for Terrestrial Ecology, Heteren, The Netherlands.
12. Filamentous fungi on plant surfaces.
Tim L. W. Carver, Plant Genetics and Breeding, IGER, Aberystwyth, UK; and.
Sarah J. Gurr, Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
13. Plant-Insect interactions on cuticular surfaces.
Caroline Müller, Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
