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Review
. 2020 Aug;227(3):698-713.
doi: 10.1111/nph.16571. Epub 2020 May 3.

Wax biosynthesis in response to danger: its regulation upon abiotic and biotic stress

Milena Lewandowska  1 , Alisa Keyl  1 , Ivo Feussner  1   2
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Wax biosynthesis in response to danger: its regulation upon abiotic and biotic stress

Milena Lewandowska et al. New Phytol. 2020 Aug.
Free article

Abstract

The plant cuticle is the first physical barrier between land plants and their terrestrial environment. It consists of the polyester scaffold cutin embedded and sealed with organic, solvent-extractable cuticular waxes. Cuticular wax ultrastructure and chemical composition differ with plant species, developmental stage and physiological state. Despite this complexity, cuticular wax consistently serves a critical role in restricting nonstomatal water loss. It also protects the plant against other environmental stresses, including desiccation, UV radiation, microorganisms and insects. Within the broader context of plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, our knowledge of the explicit roles of wax crystalline structures and chemical compounds is lacking. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of wax biosynthesis and regulation in relation to abiotic and biotic stresses and stress responses.

Keywords: abiotic stress; cuticular wax; plant-insect interactions; plant-microbe interactions; wax composition; wax crystals.

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References

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