Studies On Endosperm Culture Of Jatropha Curcas L.

Jatropha curcas L. is a multipurpose shrub or tree belonging to the genus Jatropha L of the Euphorbiaceae. It is the type species of this genus, and is native to tropical America and naturalised throughout tropical and subtropical parts of Asia and Africa. Like many other Jatropha species it is a succulent that sheds its leaves during the dry season. In China, it is found approximately 5 species in semi-wild conditions and grows in fields. Traditional approach by crossing induced superior tetraploids and diploids is not only tedious and lengthy (especially for tree species) but in many cases it may not be possible due to high sterility of autotetraploids. In contrast, regeneration of plants from endosperm, a naturally occurring triploid tissue, offers a direct and single step approach to triploid production. The selected triploids, expected to be sexually sterile, can be bulked up by micropropagation.Appropriate disinfectants and sterilization time were important to successfully inoculate the endosperm explants. In order to fix appropriate disinfectants and sterilization time, the excised explants were rinsed in 70% ethanol for 30s firstly. And then 0.1% HgCl₂ (mercuic chloride) or 10% NaCIO was used for surface sterilization. Finally, the appropriate disinfectant and the optimum sterilization time were found, that is, treating with 70% ethanol for 30s, then disinfecting with 10% NaCIO for 25min. The mature endosperm of Jatropha curcas were taken as explants to carry on callus induction, and the 0.4 mg/L of cytokinin (BAP, KT and TDZ) and...