Structural Organization of Tobacco Leaf Polar Cuticular Lipids

Abstract

The cuticle of N. tabacum L. cv. Burley leaves contains 4,8,13-duvatriene-1,3-diol, a diterpene. Scanning electron microscopy of the leaf surface showed globules which were removed with a 10-s wash in either methanol or n-hexane. Chemical analysis of the alcohol and hexane washes suggests that the surface globules are composed of duvatrienediol. More extensive washing of the leaf surface with n-hexane revealed polar lipid aggregates embedded in nonpolar wax. The polar lipid aggregates may be removed with alcohol and were mainly duvatrienediol. The duvatrienediol aggregates were present on all epidermal cells and not restricted to trichome bases.