PIVOTAL FUNCTION OF EPICUTICULAR WAX UNDER DROUGHT STRESS CONDITIONS: A REVIEW ARTICLE

Abstract

Drought stress impacts plants at various levels, causing damage and adaptive responses. Plant
species have developed various mechanisms, including morphological, physiological,
biochemical, cellular, and molecular responses, to adapt to drought conditions, enabling them to
overcome stress.Plant species develop mechanisms like the cuticle layer, composed of cutin and
wax. The cuticle plays a crucial role in plant life, regulating water loss, gas exchange, and
nutrient absorption, and its wax acts as a tolerant mechanism. The aim of this paper is to review
the role of Epicuticular wax on coffee under drought conditions.Plant epicuticular waxes
represent the outermost boundary layer of the majority of land plants. Epicuticular wax (ECW), a
protective substance, forms crystalline projections on plants' surfaces, enhancing water repellent
properties, reducing radiation load, improving transpiration efficiency and their crucial influence
on surface wet ability and particle adhesion. It acts as a natural barrier, enhancing plant resistance
against diseases, and protecting against harmful organisms. Therefore, Epicuticular wax is a trait
utilized for drought-tolerant mechanisms on coffee under drought stress conditions.