Phenolic compounds
that accumulate in the epidermal cell layer of plant tissue have an
UV-B screening and antioxidative function (Winkel-Shirley, 2002;
Schmitz-Hoerner and Weissenböck, 2003; Treutter, 2006). Fruit
cuticle and wax layer thickness increases during fruit maturity (Ju
and Bramlage, 2001), which provides further protection against
UV irradiance as the fruit matures.