Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Plants communicate environmental changes through the dynamic interface of the plant cuticle and the underlying cell wall, this interface serves to protect plants from various abiotic and biotic stresses and to coordinate immune response to environment fluctuations. Cuticular waxes function to mechanically limit water loss, radiant heat loss and exposure to environmental extremes, as well as to defend against infection by disease caused by pathogens, and insect herbivore attack. This review examines the structure and function of the cell wall-cuticle continuum and considers the composition, biosynthesis, diversification and transport of cuticular waxes. We discuss the links between cuticle and cell wall integrity and damage associated molecular patterns (DAMP) signaling, pattern triggered immunity (PTI), systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and pattern recognition receptor (PRRs) perception. Finally, we assess strategies for manipulating wax traits to improve crop resilience, focusing heavily on transcription factor engineering and CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing, while briefly addressing the prospective applications of epigenome editing. We propose that future efforts should move beyond simply increasing total wax abundance toward the precise optimization of wax composition, tissue specificity, and stress responsiveness. Integrating multi-omics, single-cell approaches, high throughput phenotyping, structural analyses and precision breeding will facilitate the rational design of crops that balance stress resilience with growth and yield under increasingly variable climates.
Source: Current Plant Biology
Institutions: Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chitkara University, SR University, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Nakhchivan University, Nakhchivan State University, Graphic Era University, Galgotias University, Uttaranchal University, United Arab Emirates University, University of Lahore, Western Caspian University, Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,440
OpenAlex ID: W7214107023