Apple Fruit Cuticles and the Occurrence of Pores and Transcuticular Canals

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Developmental studies were made on the dewaxed thin-sectioned apple fruit cuticles of 10 Malus sylvestris Mill, cultivars from 4 weeks before anthesis through fruit maturation and harvest. Cuticular development appears to correlate well with the general growth of the fruit. However, no correlation exists between fruit size and cuticle thickness. Cuticular pores were evident as early as 1 week before anthesis and transcuticular canals became evident by 1 week following anthesis. Dewaxed thin-sectioned, as well as isolated, mature fruit cuticles of 16 cultivars and four crab-apples consistently revealed the distinct presence of ubiquitous pores and canals. Evidence is provided by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Measurements were taken of cuticle thicknesses during development and of cuticular pore dimensions, and calculations were made of pore and canal numbers. Fruit size alone is not directly indicative of total pore numbers per surface area. Canal lengths are directly related to the developmental thickness of the cuticle. No correlation was found between the thickness of the mature cuticle and either the number of pores present or the pore diameters.