Cereal Chem 61:45 - 47.  |  VIEW ARTICLE
Surface Waxes from Grain, Leaves, and Husks of Maize (Zea mays L.).

G. Bianchi, P. Avato, and F. Salamini. Copyright 1984 by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc. 

Kernels, husks, and leaves of adult maize plants are covered by waxes comprising long-chain alkanes, esters, aldehydes, alcohols, acids, and sterols. Sterols were absent in the previously studied epicuticular wax of maize seedlings. Kernel and husk waxes contain high percentages of esters, but the former plant organs lack aldehydes, and the latter have no alcohols.