The Surface Waxes of the Sultana Vine (Vitis Vinifera Cv. Thompson Seedless)

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Abstract
The surface wax from leaves, fruits, and stems of the sultana vine obtained by extraction with cold chloroform has been analysed by chromatographic methods. The composition of the hydrocarbon, alcohol, and acid fractions was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. No considerable changes in the amount of wax during fruit or leaf development has been observed. Leaves were found to have only 0.008-0.011 mg wax/cm2, whereas 0.09-0.11 mg wax/ cm2 was found on grapes. The surface wax of grapes at all developmental stages contained oleanolic acid as the major constituent, but this compound was present only in small amounts on leaves. That part of all waxes soluble in light petroleum had a similar composition. Normal aldehydes were found to be present in grape wax and in the wax from mature leaves. Wax from young leaves of a size of less than 30 cm2 contained no aldehydes but instead a series of esters of normal acids with one alcohol. This was not positively identified but showed a retention time approximating to that of nonanol or decanol.

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