The wetting of leaf surfaces

Recent advances in the area of the wetting of leaf areas are reviewed with particular emphasis on their relation to agrochemical application. Areas reviewed include leaf wax composition, leaf wetting and superhydrophobicity, agrochemical deposit formation and spray retention. It is thought that most progress has been made in the area of leaf wetting through the work on lotus leaves. In the area of spray retention, factors such as plant type, spray solution properties and weathering of the plants are found to be keys. Recent progress in the modelling of spray retention is also discussed.

Graphical AbstractWeathering of epicuticular wax of a barley leaf.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (164 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch Highlights
► Recognition of well controlled surface measurements to characterise leaf surfaces.
► A fuller description of deposit formation in suspoemulsions.
► Potential application of understanding from lotus leaf wetting to other species.
► Process driven models of spray retention of agrochemicals on foliar surfaces.