AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Cutin, a waxy polymer, is a primary constituent of the plant cuticle that covers aerial plant surfaces (Briggs, 1999). Cutin is an aliphatic polyester built from C16 and C18 -hydroxyfatty acids and their derivatives.

Detailed explanation-2: -Answer: The waxy covering on plant leaves, young stems, and fruit is called the “cuticle". It is composed of cutin, a wax-like material produced by the plant that is chemically a hydroxy fatty acid.

Detailed explanation-3: -The plant cuticle is an extracellular hydrophobic layer that covers the aerial epidermis of all land plants, providing protection against desiccation and external environmental stresses.

Detailed explanation-4: -The cuticle is a barrier coating the outer surface of epidermal cells of organs of the aerial parts of the plants. It protects against water loss, various abiotic and biotic stress.

Detailed explanation-5: -In some higher plants, the cuticle is a water-impervious protective layer covering the epidermal cells of leaves and other parts and limiting water loss. It consists of cutin, a waxy, water-repellent substance allied to suberin, which is found in the cell walls of corky tissue.