Biophysical properties of plant surface waxes: Composition, morphology, responsive properties and functionality

Land plants have developed a continuous, thin, skin-like layer called a cuticle, a composite material with a framework made almost entirely of hydrocarbon polymers and lipid layers called `waxes'. These many component waxes create a membrane that coats the seed, acting a natural barrier with many functions, including protecting the plant from dangers and regulating water loss. The role that this protective barrier has is relatively unexplored and an understanding of the properties of seed surfaces is of great importance to the agricultural and food industries given the importance of food security. This work will investigate the compositional, morphological and functional properties of major crop grains and analyse how they arise. As shown in previous research, different seeds are seen to have contrasting surface properties, this project aims to investigate different seeds unique surface properties and wax chemical composition, and how they each contribute to the overall seed's functionality. Following investigation into the surfaces of native seeds, model systems are designed utilising chemical profiles of real seeds to determine the origins of the surface functionality.