NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -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. The purpose of this covering is to help the plant retain water.

Detailed explanation-2: -Plant cuticle is the outermost layer of plants, which covers leaves, fruits, flowers, and non-woody stems of higher plants. It protects plants against drought, extreme temperatures, UV radiation, chemical attack, mechanical injuries, and pathogen/pest infection.

Detailed explanation-3: -Cutin and waxes are fatty substances deposited in the walls of epidermal cells, forming a waterproof outer layer called the cuticle.

Detailed explanation-4: -The waxy cuticle is a thin layer atop the epidermis. Its function is to reduce the water lost from the leaf. In arid (dry) conditions this cuticle layer can be quite thick. Epidermis cells contain no. chloroplasts – not true of the stoma cells.

Detailed explanation-5: -A cuticle is a non-cellular waxy layer secreted by epidermal cells. It protects the epidermis and reduces water loss.