Analyzing the Expression of Genes Involved in Auxin Synthesis in Trichosanthes cucumerina L. under Shaded and Open Conditions

Light intensity is a critical environmental factor that profoundly influences plant architecture and development, often by modulating internal phytohormone levels. Specifically, the regulation of auxin biosynthesis and signaling is central to understanding how plants adapt their growth in varying light conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of key auxin biosynthesis-related genes in Trichosanthes cucumerina plants cultivated under contrasting open field and shaded field conditions within a lowland rainforest environment. This research utilized three distinct data types, morphological, anatomical, and molecular. Morphological data, including vine length, number of leaves, stem circumference, were collected through direct field measurements throughout the growth period. Anatomical data were generated by preparing and microscopically examining cross-sections of stem and root tissues to assess cellular integrity and vascular bundle differentiation. Molecular data were generated via Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) analysis, which provided relative gene expression levels for auxin biosynthesis genes (e.g., YUCCA and TAA1) from extracted plant RNA. Morphological and molecular data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis (e.g., t-tests or 2⁻ΔΔCₜ) method, to determine significant differences between the two growth environments