Research progress in plant cuticle responses to abiotic stresses.

Plant cuticle plays an important role in the plant life cycle. The cuticle is highly hydrophobic layer of cutin intermeshed and coated with waxes that covers essentially all aerial organs and mainly composed of fatty acids and their derivatives. Plant cuticle can be divided into the inner cutin and outer wax layer and forms a protective layer against temperature extremes, drought, high salinity and other abiotic stresses. The cuticle also protects inner tissues from bacterial and fungal pathogens, herbivore attacks. The recent research progresses in the relationship between plant cuticle and stress resistance, especially drought tolerance were reviewed.