Article,
Cuticle as barrier between terrestrial plants and the atmosphere - significance of growth-structure for cuticular permeability
Naturwissenschaften, 78 (5): 201-208 (1991)
Abstract
During the course of evolution, the colonization of the continents by higher plants was only possible because of the development of a skin limiting the loss of water to the atmosphere. This skin is called the plant cuticle. It consists of a lipid biopolymer (cutin) and associated wax-like lipids. The water permeability of the cuticle is very low and is comparable to that of synthetic polymer membranes of equal thickness. It is not correlated to the thickness of the cuticle. The transport-limiting barrier of the cuticle is formed by, the cuticular waxes. A model for the molecular structure of this wax barrier and for the path of molecules across it is discussed. Under the conditions of a polluted environment the plant cuticle may also act as a site where lipophilic organic compounds accumulate and eventually enter food chains and human nutrition.
