Genomics of Seed Oil Biosynthesis and Disease Response Components in Jatropha curcas L

Abstract

The rising demand for biofuels has raised concerns about selecting alternate and promising renewable energy crops which do not compete with food supply Jatropha Jatropha curcas L a nonedible energy crop of the family euphorbiaceae has the potential of providing biodiesel feedstock due to the presence of high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids 75% in seed oil which is mainly accumulated in endosperm and embryo Virus causing mosaic disease is becoming prevalent in Jatropha plantations and is responsible for significant reduction in seed yield and quality and also affecting its oil quality and content The molecular basis of seed oil biosynthesis machinery has been studied in J curcas however what genetic differences contribute to differential oil biosynthesis and accumulation in genotypes varying for oil content is poorly understood Also insights into the molecular mechanism in response to virus infection in J curcas are lacking and no report exists as of today on molecular components associated with disease resistance in this potential bioenergy plant The current study therefore investigated: 1 relative expression of FA and TAG biosynthesis pathway genes in high 42% versus low 30% oil content genotypes of Jatropha curcas 2 deciphering molecular components of a viral disease response in Jatropha curcas 3 detection of NBSLRR genes and defenserelated transcription factors in Jatropha curcas newlineThe expression profile of 18 genes encoding enzymes catalyzing FA and TAG biosynthetic pathway in different developmental stages of embryo and endosperm from high 42% and low 30% oil content genotypes grown at two geographical locations was investigated Most of the genes showed higher expression in ripened and mature oil accumulating stages of high oil content genotype implying genetic differences contributing towards variation in oil content among genotypes Genes encoding rate limiting enzymes showing higher expression in oil newline newline