Epicuticular wax strucutre and accumulation on main-crop fig fruit (Ficus carica L.) during development

Abstract

The amount of epicuticular wax extracted from the fruit of three fig cultivars varied significantly during development; no significant differences were found between cultivars. The greatest accumulation of wax occurred at the beginning of the second stage of rapid growth. In senescent fruit there was a decrease or at least stability, in the amount of surface wax. SEM examination revealed a superficial structure characterized by a cellular-like network and a clearly organized fine structure of overlapping lamellae. Some differences in structure were found between cultivars but were not sufficient for characterization. Changes in wax fine structure during development indicated a progressive breaking down which intensified in senescence. The morphology of stomata and trichomes is described.