Organ Specific Composition of Epicuticular Waxes of C is Tus albidus L., Cistaceae

Abstract

Epicuticular waxes from various organs of Cistus albidus L. showed always an organ specific composition. Leaf wax contained homologous series of very long chained and saturated wax components, such as hydrocarbons, wax esters, fatty acids and alcohols. Additionally in this wax extract triterpenoids and great amounts of resin were found. Sepal wax had nearly the same wax composition like that of leaves with a trend to shorter chain lengths and not so great amounts of resin. Petal wax contained the common wax lipids, too, but the homologous series showed a shift to shorter chain lengths, and great amounts of unsaturated lipids were found in hydrocarbons, wax esters and fatty acids. In addition triterpenol esters were found but no resin. Stamen wax was similar to that of petals. The shift to shorter chain lengths and the presence of great amounts of unsaturated lipids showed a characteristic distribution for stamens. Seed waxcontained only saturated wax lipids. In contrast to leaf waxes, the short chain compounds were dominating, and triterpenoids and resin were missing. The chemical wax composition of the various organs of C. albidus was correlated to the surface structures of these organsby SEM pictures. © 1988, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.