| Epicuticular wax (EW) forms the outermost layer over aerial portions of a plant. EW has been studied in plants for more than 100 years, yet there is a great deal that is still not known about epicuticular wax. The work in this dissertation has taken a broad view in investigating EW of Arabidopsis thaliana. In this dissertation I examined EW chemistry, EW structure, and mapped positions of existing and novel eceriferum or cer mutants. Additionally, I worked to develop new EW pathway models, establish correlations between EW chemistry and structure, and examine a possible functional role for EW in insect interactions. More specifically this dissertation project has attempted to expand the baseline knowledge of EW and of EW mutants in A. thaliana. |
