The Structure of the Cuticle in Relation to Cuticular Transpiration in Leaves of the Halophyte Suaeda maritima (L.) Dum.

Both cuticle and cell wall of the epidermal cells of leaves of Suaeda maritima showed a considerable increase in thickness (Cedeximately 1.8 times) in plants grown in the presence of 0.34 M sodium chloride when compared with plants grown without added sodium chloride. Differences in the structure of the cuticle were also observed. The rate of transpiration in the dark was markedly reduced with increasing concentrations of salt in the external medium. Cuticular transpiration appears to be related to cuticular thickness and to fall with increasing salinity.