The composition and structure of the surface tissues have a noticeable influence on the postharvest storage potential of fruits, inasmuch as they behave as a barrier against drying, chemical attacks, mechanical injuries and microbial infections. Cuticle is made of cutin - a biological insoluble polyester - embedded in an impermeable wax complex, and its inner side interacts intimately with the underlying epidermal cell walls. The cuticle plays a decisive role in plant development, being its first communication system with the surrounding biotic and abiotic environment. Published reports on composition and biosynthesis of fruit cuticles are comparatively scarce, and many knowledge gaps exist as to what part they play in quality determination and postharvest performance. This review aims at collecting available information in relation to the role of fruit cuticle as a determinant factor of some important traits related to postharvest quality of produce, including water loss, susceptibility to several physical and biological stresses, and decreased fruit firmness. To our best knowledge, this is the first published work focusing on fruit cuticle as a major modulator of postharvest quality, and interlinking pre-existing disperse literature on this topic. A deeper comprehension of cuticle structure and functions will be of help in understanding postharvest biology and in designing new technological solutions.B. Belge is the recipient of a FI-DGR grant from AGAUR (Generalitat de Catalunya). Financial support through the AGL2010-14801/ALI project, granted by the Ministerio de Ciencia eInnovación (MICINN) of Spain, is gratefully acknowledged

The plant cuticle is an extracellular barrier that protects the aerial, non-lignified parts of plants from the surrounding environment, and furthermore plays important functions in organ growth and development. The role of the cuticle in post-harvest quality of fruits is a topic currently driving a lot of interest since an increasing bulk of research data show its modulating influence on a number of important traits determining shelf life and storage potential, including water transpiration and fruit dehydration, susceptibility to rots, pests and disorders, and even firmness. Moreover, the properties of fruit cuticles keep evolving after harvest, and have also been shown to be highly responsive to the external conditions surrounding the fruit. Indeed, common post-harvest treatments will have an impact on cuticle integrity and performance that needs to be evaluated for a deeper understanding of changes in post-harvest quality. In this review, chemical and biophysical properties of fruit cuticles are summarized. An overview is also provided of post-harvest changes in cuticles and the effects thereupon of some post-harvest procedures, with the purpose of offering a comprehensive summary of currently available information. Identification of natural sources of variability in relevant quality traits would allow breeding for the improvement of post-harvest life of fruit commodities.

Cuticles are plant structures, composed mostly by lipidic layers, synthesized by nonwoody aerial plant organs and deposited on the surface of outer epidermal cell walls. Although its significance has been often disregarded, cuticle deposition modifies organ chemistry, influences mechanical properties, and plays a central role in sensing and interacting with the surrounding environment. Even though some research has been undertaken addressing cuticle biosynthesis and composition in vegetative plant tissues, comparatively less information is available regarding cuticle composition in the epidermis of fruits. However, recent work points to a role for cuticles in the modulation of fruit quality and postharvest performance, indicating that current models for the investigation of fruit development, metabolism, and quality need to integrate a comprehensive knowledge of the cuticle layer. This paper provides an overview of recent findings and observations regarding cuticle biosynthesis and composition in fruits from species of agronomic and economic relevance. Important, but often neglected differences in cuticle composition and biosynthesis patterns among diverse fruit species are described herein to generate an atlas of what is currently known about fruit cuticles and to highlight what remains to be explored. Emphasis is placed on the need to investigate each genetic background considering its own specificities, to permit correlations with the particular physiology of each species considered. Both specific composition and changes during maturation and ripening are reviewed.