Micro-propagation in Jatropha curcas: A Potential Bio Fuel Plant

Currently, experts are searching for renewable and substitute energy sources because of continuous depletion of fossil fuels. Therefore, mass propagation of bio-fuel plants, is needed and Jatropha curcas is considered as a crucial plant in this regard¹.

Conventional macro-propagation in this plant is done through stem and seeds but low seed yields as well as poor root development has been observed in case of stem cutting². Yield can be enhanced by using seeds but this goal can't be accomplished in absence of adequate rainfall, moisture as well as other pre-requisites during propagation. For this reason, plant micro-propagation by means of embryo culture is encouraged.

In this regard Mohan et al.³ investigated the in vitro propagation of J. curcas by utilizing immature embryo obtained from seeds and by employing Murashige and Skoog basal medium.

These facts urged Comfort et al.⁴ for designing a research to compare the two basal media by utilizing zygotic embryos as explants and supplementing both basal media with two growth regulators including auxin and cytokinin to investigate the morphogenesis of embryo explants. For this purpose, scientists removed the zygotic embryos from mature seeds of tested plant and then inoculated on modified basal media under aseptic conditions.

This research showed the efficiency of tested protocols which can be used for the mass production of plantlets by consuming less duration and without the inclusion of plant growth regulatory substances as well. Conclusively, scientists suggested Gamborg's medium (B5) as the most appropriate medium for in vitro micropropagation of J. curcas by employing embryo explants.

REFERENCES

1. Prakash, A.R., J.S. Patolia, J. Chikara and G.N. Boricha, 2007. Floral biology and flowering behaviour of Jatropha curcas. Proceedings of the Expert Seminar on Jatropha curcas L. Agronomy and Genetics, March 27, 2007, Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, G.B. Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India, pp: 10.
2. Datta, M.M., P. Mukherjee, B. Ghosh and T.B. Jha, 2007. In vitro clonal propagation of biodiesel plant (Jatropha curcas L.). Curr. Sci., 93: 1438-1442.
3. Mohan, N., S. Nikdad and G. Singh, 2011. Studies on seed germination and embryo culture of Jatropha curcas L. under in vitro conditions. Biotechnol. Bioinf. Bioenerg., 1: 187-194.
4. Comfort, A.C., O.U. Cyprian and O.C.E. Agab, 2018. In vitro plant regeneration from mature embryo explants of Jatropha curcas L. (A biodiesel plant) on two standard basal nutrient media. Am. J. Plant Physiol., 13: 23-35.