Epicuticular waxes of four eragrostoid grasses

Abstract

The major components of Sporobolus airoides wax were hydrocarbons (37%, C 27–C 33), those of Bouteloua curtipendula and Eragrostis trichoides waxes esters (28% and 31%, respectively) and those of Muhlenbergia wrightii wax free alcohols (57%, almost entirely C 28). Free alcohols formed 22% of the wax from B. curtipendula, 19 % of the wax from E. trichoides and 10% of the wax from S. airoides; the compositions ranged from C 26 to C 32 with C 32 the major component. These alcohol compositions are similar to those found for other species in the subfamily Eragrostoideae. The esters contain 32–46% of acylated triterpenols, principally α- and β-amyrins. Aldehydes were present in all the waxes except for that from S. airoides.