Chemical composition and morphology of epicuticular waxes from leaves of solanum tuberosum

Abstract

The chemical composition and morphology of leaf surface waxes of Solanum tuberosum were analysed using FT-IR. GLC and MS studies. There is a predominance of saturated and long chained components resulting in a crystalline wax layer in the form of ribbons, n-alkanes are a major constituent with C3I being prominent. Wax esters and 5-alcohols form theother major components. Wax composition of five other solanaceous plants, viz., Solanum eleagnifolium, Lycopersicon esculentum, Nicotiana tabacum, Datura stromonium and Solanum nigrum were compared with those of potato using TLC techniques and do not show any qualitative differences. © 1987, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.