Revisiting the architecture, biosynthesis and functional aspects of the plant cuticle: there is more scope

Abstract

Having evolutionary significance in establishing colonization of terrestrial plants, cuticle occurs to act as a continuous shield over the plant epidermal cells, facilitating multifunctional communication passage between the plant and outer environment. Cuticle is a hydrophobic layer acting as a fencing between the aerial plant parts viz. primary stem, leaves, trichomes, flowers and fruits, and their external environment. The chemical nature and structure of cuticle may vary during various developmental and growth stages, as well as between various organs, genotypes, and species, depending on the environmental conditions. It is majorly composed of cutin and epicuticular wax depositions. In-depth understanding of the mechanism behind the cuticle biosynthesis remains to be unveiled. This review systematically discusses and sheds light on the structure and composition of cuticle, various genes, transcription factors and molecular pathways involved in the biosynthesis of cuticle, and how their regulation affect the plant health. Moreover, various functions of cuticle in terms of plant protection have been discussed.