Epicuticular waxes of eceriferum mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract The principal surface lipids of Arabidopsis are n -nonacosane, 14- and 15-nonacosanol, 15-nonacosanone, C 16 –C 30 free fatty acids, C 26 –C 30 primary alcohols and C 26 –C 30 aldehydes. We have analysed the chemical composition of the epicuticular wax of 10 Arabidopsis thaliana eceriferum ( cer ) mutants. One of the mutants ( cer 2) is blocked in the elongation of octacosanoic acid and accumulates large amounts of primary alcohols and fatty acids in its epicuticular wax. The surface lipid composition of another mutant ( cer 4) appears to be defective in the production of primary alcohols and accumulates elevated levels of epicuticular alkanes. We have also identified a mutant ( cer 1) which accumulates epicuticular aldehydes and is severely deficient in alkanes on its surface. Seven other mutants had only slightly different epicuticular wax compositions compared to those of wild type plants.