Investigations on epicuticular waxes of differently damaged spruce needles

Abstract

Abstract Epicuticular waxes of spruce needles were studied with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Needle samples originated from differently SO 2 ‐polluted areas. The results show that the wax structures of the damaged trees are destroyed. The erosions of the waxes are not exclusively caused by air pollution; the wax structures are influenced also by the vitality of the individual tree.