Modification of Plant Epicular Waxes

Abstract

Plants have defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses. All land plants have a waxy protective barrier, on their aerial surfaces, with which insects first come in contact. Many herbivorous insects may to select their host plants on the basis of the chemical and structural characteristics of the plant surface (Eigenbrode and Espelie, 1995). Certain plant epicuticular lipids can contribute to insect resistance by affecting insect behavior (Eigenbrode et al., 1991). The molecular and biochemical basis of epicuticular wax biosynthesis and the composition that is involved in plant defense is poorly understood. In this study our purpose is to see whether the introduction and expression of an heterologous elongase condensing enzyme, with altered substrate specificities, could result in a change in epicuticular waxes, and if so, to determine if the change affects wax function.