Table 1.

Main cuticle properties identifying the main component responsible and their role.

Property	Component	Function
Permeability	Intra (epi) waxes	Reduce water loss from tissues
Hydration	Polysaccharides	Absorb water
	Waxes	Reduce water absorption from the environment
Light	Phenolics/flavonoids	Absorb UV-VIS light, contribute to fruit color
	Epicuticular waxes	Reflect light
Biomechanics: Fruit cracking Pest attack Herbivores	Polysaccharides Phenolics Waxes	Increase mechanical stiffness
Development	Cutin/waxes	Normal epidermal development Inhibits organ fusion
	Phenolics/cutin/waxes	Epidermal cell size
Thermal	Waxes/cutin	Act as a thermo-regulator
Gas exchange	Cuticle	Contribute to gas exchange
Self-cleaning	Epicuticular waxes	Surfaces remain clean and dry
Surface glossiness	Epicuticular waxes Cutin	Confer fruit brightness