Characterization of Jatropha curcas Growth and Semiquantitative ACCse Gene Expression by RT-PCR Technique under Drought Treatment

Abstract

One of the plants that has the potential to produce biolipids is the Jatropha curcas plant (Jatropha curcas L.), this plant is known for its seeds that can produce oil that can be used as biodiesel. This study aimed to determine the effect of drought stress on growth factors and the role of the ACCse lipid biosynthesis coding gene in Jatropha curcas. Jatropha curcas was grown in polybags with 100 experimental units and various drought abiotic treatments. The RNA isolation stage was carried out by grinding jatropha plants using Trizol reagent. cDNA synthesis was performed using the RevertAid cDNA kit (Thermo Scientific, USA). The results showed that reduced soil moisture significantly impacted various growth parameters. Plant height and leaf number decreased drastically at 25% KL, with a height reduction of up to 45% compared to the control. Leaves also became smaller, an adaptive response to reduce water loss through transpiration. Furthermore, plant biomass decreased significantly due to limited photosynthesis due to closed stomata under drought conditions. The results showed successful cDNA synthesis with good efficiency, as evidenced by consistent amplification of both target genes. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Jatropha curcas is sensitive to drought stress during the early post-cutting period, and prolonged water limitation can impair plant growth and survival. These findings provide valuable insights into drought response mechanisms and can serve as a basis for evaluating stress tolerance strategies or mitigation approaches in J. curcas cultivation. In the control, the ACCse gene showed stable expression, while in the drought treatment, there was a significant increase in ACCse gene expression, indicating its role in the adaptive response to drought stress.