• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2011

This study was undertaken to collect basic knowledge of Jatropha which is one of bio-energy crops, based on the understanding of physiological and molecular aspects under salt and drought conditions. The treatments were followed as: 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl for salt stress and 5, 10, 20 and 30% PEG for drought stress for 8 days, respectively. Leaf growth, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence and gene expression of aquaporin (JcPIP2) of Jatropha were investigated. From 2 days after treatments, plants treated with higher than 100 mM NaCl and 10% PEG respectively were significantly suppressed in leaf length, width, and stomatal conductance, but 5% PEG treatment showed that plant growth was improved more than control plant. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that the JcPIP2 gene was expressed in root, stem, cotyledon and leaves. It was not detected in leaves at 200 and 300 mM NaCl treatments. However, transcripts of JcPIP2 were induced in roots and stems under salt and drought conditions compared to those of healthy plants. Therefore, it was concluded that JcPIP2 plays an important role in improving drought tolerance.