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Articles

Lipid and Surface Wax Synthesis in Water-stressed Cotton Leaves ^1,2

Department of Botany and Microbiology, Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama 36830

The incorporation of [2-¹⁴C]malonate and [1-¹⁴C]acetate into internal lipid and surface wax by cotton leaves (Gossypium hirsutum L. `Deltapine') having water potentials of –8 to –15 bars (controls) and –19 to –32 bars (water-stressed) was compared. Lipid from stressed leaves contained a mean of 57% more radioactivity than corresponding controls for five experiments. Acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase was not limiting to fatty acid synthesis in water-stressed cotton leaves at the water potential levels tested, whereas fatty acid synthetase was stimulated. In four of six experiments, wax from stressed leaves contained a mean of 38% less radioactivity than nonstressed leaves when incubated 24 hours after rehydration. Evidence is presented to show that after a suitable period of rehydration, previously stressed cotton leaves produce more wax than leaves prior to stressing.

¹ Supported by Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station State Project Ala. 5-866 to J. D. W.

² For clarity, the term "lipid" is used to denote internal leaf lipids, "wax" refers to leaf surface wax; w: water potential; DEGS: diethylene glycol succinate.