Eco-physiological and molecular-genetic determinants of plant cuticle function in drought and salt stress tolerance

A waxy cuticle covers the aerial organs of plants that functions to prevent uncontrolled water loss. The cuticle has often been considered a non-responsive adaptation that acts simply as a barrier to water loss, when in fact cuticle metabolism is quite responsive to environmental stresses. The responsiveness of the cuticle has been demonstrated by changes in cuticle chemistry and cuticle gene expression of drought and salt exposed plants. Alteration of cuticle traits through breeding and biotechnology approaches may prove useful in improving crops for drought and salt tolerance. However, work is still needed to lay the foundation for the use of cuticle genes and traits for agronomic purposes