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The effect of the environment on the permeability and composition of Citrus leaf cuticles

I. Water permeability of isolated cuticular membranes

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Abstract

The water permeabilities of 3174 astomatous, isolated cuticular membranes from Citrus aurantium L. leaves were studied. Trees were grown in environmental chambers at temperatures ranging from 15 to 35° C and humidities of 50% and 90%. Photosynthetically active radiation was 500–1000 μmol photons·m−2· s−1. The different growing conditions had no effect on the water permeability of the membranes. However, storing isolated cuticular membranes at 8° C for up to 112 weeks decreased their water permeability, and it is argued that this is a consequence of the healing of defects between wax crystallites, and also indicates the dynamic nature of cuticular waxes.

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Abbreviations

CM:

cuticular membranes

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Geyer, U., Schönherr, J. The effect of the environment on the permeability and composition of Citrus leaf cuticles. Planta 180, 147–153 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193989

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