Determination of suitable cutting size for vegetative propagation and comparison of propagules to evaluate the seed quality attributes in Jatropha curcas Linn.

摘要

An attempt was made to propagate the Jatropha, Jatropha curcas Linn. through stem cutting without any rooting hormonal treatments. The cuttings were selected with three different lengths, viz. 20 cm (L₁), 30 cm (L₂) and 40 cm (L₃) and four different stem thickness: 1.5-2.0 cm (T₁), 2.0-2.5 cm (T₂), 2.5-3.0 cm (T₃) and 3.0-3.5 cm (T₄). The cuttings were planted in the nursery and observed for survival percentage, number of leaves per plant, root volume, root fresh and dry weight on 90 days after planting. The result revealed that the stem cutting with 40 cm length (L₃) and 2.5 to 3.0 cm thickness (T₃) was found to be very suitable for quicker regeneration with seedling quality characteristics compared to other types of cuttings. Hence, to find out the suitable propagating material for commercial exploitation, the best performed stem cutting with 40 cm length (L₃) and 2.5 to 3.0 cm thickness T₃) along with freshly harvested seeds were forwarded to field trial. The plant biometric characteristics, fruit and seed quality attributes were observed in both the treatments and compared to find out the best propagating techniques. The plants propagated by seeds recorded more plant height (1.65 m), number of branches (3.2). However, the flowering was four days earlier by cuttings than the plants propagated by seeds. The reproductive character of the monoecious inflorescence in terms of male to female flower ratio was higher in seed propagated crop (24:1) than cuttings (22:1). J. curcas propagated through seeds recorded better performance related to plant biometric and seed quality characteristics compared to cuttings, which induced early flowering and more female flowers than the seed crop.