Year: 1976
Type: article
Abstract: The morphological and chronological development of epicuticular waxes and their effects on the boundary layer of blue spruce needles were studied with a scanning electron microscope. Structural or crystalline-like waxes develop first in the epistomatal chambers of needles in an expanding bud. However, as the needles emerge from the bud the structural waxes develop over the entire needle surface on glaucous foliage but are mainly restricted to the stomatal areas on non-glaucous foliage. The epistomatal chambers are occluded with surface waxes as the needles emerge from the bud and they remained occluded. Structural waxes occlude the epistomatal chambers but as these waxes degrade the occlusion becomes amorphous in appearance. Structural waxes are degraded to an amorphous layer over the entire needle surface by weathering. Calculations reveal that the surface waxes of blue spruce are too small to have a significant effect on the boundary layer of the needle.
Source: American Journal of Botany
Authors: David A. Reicosky, James W. Hanover
Institution: Michigan State University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2081832379