Physiological and morphological responses biodiesel plant (Jatropha curcas L.) to water stress condition

ABSTRACT: Drought is the major environmental constraints to crop productivity. In order to study the effects of water stress on physiological traits of plant species Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.), greenhouse experiment in a randomized complete block design with five replicates at Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University during one successive summer season of 2011 was conducted Jatropha curcas L. seeds gently provided by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of Hormozgan, Iran. First with utilizes experimental methods and Using TDR and Pressure plate the moisture content of field capacity and wilting point was determined. After determining the moisture content of field capacity and wilting point, treatments were considered that percentage of available water will be located to Jatropha plants. And on water stress condition, plant behavior was evaluated. Treatments were included moisture field capacity (control), 75% humidity of water availability, and moisture content of 50% to 25% water availability, respectively. During the experiment, plant growth traits such as: number of leaves, plant height and collar diameter, Also, chlorophyll levels were measured using chlorophyll meter. The results indicate that the effect of water stress on plant growth parameters (Leaf number, Collar diameter, Plant height and Root length) was significant, but the effect of water stress on chlorophyll levels were not significant. It seems No sufficient to increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the plant will reduces the plantʹs ability to tolerate stress and will cause induce injury to plant lifeʹs. Therefore, Jatroph plant with drought avoidance mechanisms, such as: Maintain higher RWC, reduced leaf area and increasing the number of chlorophyll meter, has to confronting to drought stress.