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GCSE Biology · key term
A tough, waxy layer covering the surface of a leaf that helps prevent microorganisms entering.
Used by AQA and Edexcel
Specification 4.3.3.2 · Paper 1
Revise: Plant DefencesA leaf has a tough waxy cuticle over much of its outer surface. This makes it harder for microorganisms on the leaf to reach the living cells beneath. It is a barrier, not a guarantee that infection is impossible: leaves also have openings and can be damaged.
Specification 5.9B · Paper 1
A layer of wax on the outside of a leaf that forms a barrier to pathogen entry.
Link each defence to what it does: a waxy cuticle blocks entry, whereas a poison deters animals from eating the plant.
If asked which leaf barriers an aphid-borne virus passes through, name both the waxy cuticle and the cell wall. Pearson’s examiner awarded separate marks for them.
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The outside of a leaf is covered by a waxy cuticle. This continuous coating helps prevent pathogens entering through the leaf surface. Beneath it are plant cells.