Abstract
The research objective was to determine the expression level of dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) gene of local corn cultivars from Kisar Island Maluku, Indonesia. The study was designed as randomized block design with single factor consist of six local corn cultivars obtained from farmers in Kisar Island and one reference varieties which has been released as a drought-tolerant varieties and obtained from Cereal Crops Research Institute Maros South Sulawesi. Isolation of total RNA from the second leaf after the flag leaf at the 65 days after planting were carried out according to the protocols of the R and ABlueTM Total RNA Extraction Kit, and was used as a template for cDNA synthesis. Amplification of cDNA from total RNA was carried out according to the protocol of One-Step Reverse Transcriptase PCR Premix Kit. Real Time-PCR was performed usingcDNA from reverse transcription following the procedures of Real MODTM Green Real-Time PCR Master Mix Kit. The real time-PCR data were analyzed using relative quantification method based on the critical point/cycle threshold. The highest DREB gene expression was showed by Deep Yellow local corn cultivar, and the lowest one was showed by Rubby Brown Cob cultivar. The DREB gene expression level of deep yellow local corn cultivar was even higher than Srikandi variety as a reference variety.