INDOLE ACETIC ACID AND GIBBERELLIC ACID ENHANCE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE OF JATROPHA CURCAS L. UNDER WATERLOGGING AND DROUGHT STRESS

Jatropha curcas L. (J. curcas) is an emerging biodiesel plant attracting the interest of researcher around the globe. The current study was performed to enhance the growth of J. curcas under water logged and drought stress condition through application of phytohormones. We treated the plants with 100 mM and 250 mM Indole acetic acid (IAA) and Gibberellic acid (GA) exogenously. The study was performed in pots in summer and winter separately. The results showed that, all the plants died in the winter due to frost condition which showed that J. curcas was highly susceptible to low temperature and frost condition. Further experiment was carried out on the plants grown in summer. Both the hormones increased the plant height under both the stresses while the length of root was considerably increased by GA in the water logged and drought stress conditions compared to IAA. The root and shoot fresh and dry weight were enhanced significantly by GA 250 mM.. Leaves and branches number, and stem diameter were greatly affected by water logging and drought stress, however both the hormonal application increased these parameters. Further the results showed that, GA 250 mM highly increased the proximate compositions in both the stresses followed by IAA 250 mM. These results collectively demonstrate that the external administration of IAA and GA stimulates the growth and development of J. curcas under conditions of waterlogging and drought stress by modulating various morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters.