Comparative analysis of plant cuticular waxes using HATR FT-IR reflection technique

The utility of horizontal attenuated total reflection HATR FT-IR technique for preliminary plant leaf cuticular waxes qualitative analysis was studied . Detection and identification of small amounts of surface compounds were a chieved. The main components of analysed samples were long-chain aliphatic compounds, mainly hydrocarbons. Weak absorption in the range of 1717-1738 c m(-1) indicated the presence of some compounds containing carbonyl groups. In the case of direct HATR analysis of potato leaf surface, an additional b road band of water was observed. The results obtained by infrared methods a re in good agreement with HPLC analyses. HATR FT-IR is convenient and a rap id method of preliminary evaluation of surface plant material composition, especially for esters, ketones and aldehydes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.