Studies on Plant Cuticle: The Cutin Component of the Cuticles of Leaves

Methods are described for the chemical separation from leaf material of the ventral and dorsal surface cuticular membranes and for the determination of cutin in the membranes and leaf tissues. The cutin contents of the cuticular membranes separated from leaves of laurel, rhododendron, and Euonymus, and of leaf tissues of cauliflower, red beet, banana, tomato, strawberry and blackcurrant are reported. The relationship between the cutin and waxy components of the leaf cuticle is discussed, and earlier work on the development, structure and chemistry of the cuticle is reviewed.