PATHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -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-2: -Introduction. 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: -Functions. The primary function of the plant cuticle is as a water permeability barrier that prevents evaporation of water from the epidermal surface, and also prevents external water and solutes from entering the tissues.

Detailed explanation-4: -Cuticle – The cuticle is the waxy layer present on all above-ground tissue of a plant and serves as a barrier to water movement out of a leaf. Because the cuticle is made of wax, it is very hydrophobic or ‘water-repelling’; therefore, water does not move through it very easily.

Detailed explanation-5: -The cuticle is well known for its functions as a diffusion barrier limiting water and solute transport across the apoplast and for its protection of the plant against chemical and mechanical damage, as well as pest and pathogen attack (Riederer, 2006).