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Investigating The Leaf Cuticle Of The Moss Physcomitrella Patens, Eric John Ricci

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

To minimize water loss, the aerial parts of vascular land plants are covered with a hydrophobic layer called a cuticle. The cuticle typically consists of two major components: cutin and waxes. In contrast to vascular plants, research reports indicate that some primitive nonvascular plants, such as mosses, lack a cuticle. This study attempts to reconcile contradictory literature reports about the presence of a waxy cuticle on the leaves of the moss Physcomitrella patens.

Histochemical staining was utilized to investigate the presence of a cuticle on Physcomitrella leaves. Experiments employing dyes that stain hydrophobic substances were generally consistent with the …