Cuticular wax on the plant epidermis inhibits or
enhances prepenetration events of powdery mildew (Erysiphe
necator Schwein). We examined the role of cuticular
leaf and berry waxes as a resistance mechanism in four
grapevine genotypes (Italia × Mercan-174, Gürcü, Isabella,
Özer Karası) resistant to powdery mildew after natural infection
and inoculation. To understand cuticular wax properties,
we determined the amount of wax and antifungal effects of
thin layer chromatography (TLC) fractions from cuticular
leaf and berry waxes, then assessed the chemical composition
of fractions with different antifungal activities using
gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Susceptible
genotypes Cabernet Sauvignon and Italia were used
for comparison. Resistant and sensitive genotypes did not
differ significantly in the total amount of wax on leaves and
berries; however, 27 fatty acids, 26 alkanes, 6 terpenes, 4
indole derivatives and 4 ketones, and 3 amides, 3 phenols
and 3 steroids were detected in fractions with high antifungal
activity (≥75% inhibition of germination) in leaf and/
or berry cuticular waxes of resistant genotypes only. These
compounds may be evaluated as markers for powdery