Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources
Year : 1997, Volume : 10, Issue : 1
First page : ( 123) Last page : ( 128)
Print ISSN : 0971-8184.

Characterization and utilization of Indian Jatrophas

Sujatha M., Prabakaran A.J.

Division of Crop Improvement, Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500 030 (Andhra Pradesh).

Abstract

Several species of the genus Jatropha found in India were collected and evaluated. Apart from their use as ornamental and energy crops, the genus Jatropha represents a potentially valuable source of germplasm for castor breeding as they possess very rare and beneficial characteristics, such as drought resistance, photoperiod insentivity, resistance to wilt and tolerance to lepidopteran insect pests besides, desirable oil quality. Tissue culture protocols developed for Jatropha of fer scope not only for widening the genetic base of castor through somatic hybridization and genetic transformation but also in the improvement of Jatropha per se by both conventional and in vitro techniques as the available variability in the latter is quite narrow.

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Keywords

Jatropha sp, characterization, utilization, interspecific hybridization, tissue culture.

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