MECHANISMS OF DEPOSITION OF EPICUTICULAR WAX IN LEAVES OF BROCCOLI, BRASSICA-OLERACEA L VAR CAPITATA L

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.) leaf waxes were labelled with [2-C-14]acetate and examined during synthesis and deposition using microautoradiography. Waxes were viewed with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), including cryo-SEM. In microautoradiography, silver grains resulting from radioactive decay of labelled waxes seemed to be distributed randomly throughout the cuticle. This random distribution supports the hypothesis of diffusion or complex anastomosing pores as the mechanism of epicuticular wax deposition. The hypothesis of wax-depositing pores running perpendicular to the leaf surface is not supported.