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Abstract:The present investigation was carried out at the Forestry Research Farm, Navsari Agricultural University; Navsari to evaluate the gamma rays at 10 kR, 20 kR and 30 kR induced variability in Jatropha curcas L. on germination, growth and yield for seven Jatropha genotypes (Phule J-1, Urlikanchan, Hansraj, SKN Big, Chhatrapati, Hansot and MPJ-55). The significantly maximum germination percentage (66.96%), seedling survival (74.18%), seedling collar diameter (0.958cm), shoot length (49.442cm), number of leaves per seedling (7.757) and leaf area (37. 58) was observed in Chhatrapati genotype during nursery stage. While low rate of gamma rays treatment (10 kR) had stimulatory effect for germination percentage, seedling survival, seedling collar diameter, shoot length, number of leaves per seedling and leaf area. However, higher gamma rays doses (30 kR) drastically reduced all studied characters. The interaction effect of genotype and gamma rays were significant for number of leaves per seedling. Further, it was not significant in other traits like germination percentage, seedling survival, seedling collar diameter, shoot length and leaf area.

However, only the plant height was found to be highest under Arjun, followed by Kalam trees. Among all the varieties tested, K-851 variety showed superiority for number of leaves (12.31) and number of branches per plant (3.96) and grain yield (2.66 gm per plant and 0.80 kg per plot) as compared to other varieties (at P=0.05). Therefore, this variety is suggested to grow in south Gujarat condition. Further, comparatively lower yield of crop under tree cover could be due to shade effect, which can be managed by regular pruning of tree branches.

The present investigation was conducted for mass multiplication of Jatropha curcas L. through axillary bud culture. For this nodal segment from 3-5 months old nursery grown plants were used as explants for axillary bud culture. The sterilization treatment involving dipping explants in 0.1 per cent HgCl 2 solution for 5 minutes resulted in minimum contamination and maximum establishment of nodal explants. The treatment MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP and 1.0 mg/L IAA was the best for culture establishment, shoot proliferation and multiplication of the axillary buds which exhibited highest value in each parameter like establishment (76.1%), number of days taken for shoot initiation (3.1 days), length of longest shoot (6.8 cm), number of leaves on main shoot (7.1) and number of shoots per explant (6.3). Among different treatments for root initiation, half MS media fortified with 1 mg/L IBA, 3 mg/ L NAA and 0.25 g AC gave best result in maximum number of rooting percentage (60) with minimum time taken for root initiation (13.3 days), produced maximum number of roots per shoots (5.1) and length of longest root (4.9 cm) when established shoots were treated with it. Such produced plantlets showed nearly cent per cent survival after hardening and acclimatization. It showed that explants surface sterilized with 0.1 per cent HgCl 2 solution for 5 minutes inoculated in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP and 1.0 mg/L IAA and half MS media fortified with 1 mg/L IBA, 3 mg/L NAA and 0.25 g AC were best in shoot establishment and root development respectively for mass multiplication of J. curcas L. through axillary bud culture.

Abstract:The selected healthy branches of Jatropha curcas were cut into 15 cm and 25 cm length having 4 to 5 nodes in each category of apical portion (thickness < 1cm), middle portion (1.0 to 1.5 cm) and basal portion (1.5 to 2 cm). The base positions of apical, middle, basal portions of cuttings were dipped in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1000 ppm of IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid) and IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid) respectively for four hours. After which the cuttings were planted in the polypots filled with rooting media consists of sand, soil and farm yard manure (FYM) in the ratio of 1:2:1. Maximum sprouting (100%) was observed in 25 cm as well as 15 cm length cuttings of different portions. In case of 25 cm length different sections like apical cuttings when treated with 200 ppm, 800 ppm IAA and 400 ppm IBA, basal cutting with 800 ppm IAA and 200, 400 ppm IBA and middle cuttings with 200 ppm IAA, similarly 15cm length basal portion cutting treated with 400 ppm IAA produce 100 per cent sprouting. Other characters like rooting percentage (93.33%), root length (37.66cm), fresh biomass (73.21g) and dry biomass (34.06g) were observed maximum in apical portion cutting of 25 cm length treated with 100 ppm IBA, 800 ppm IBA, 100 ppm IAA and 100 ppm IAA respectively where as root number (17.0) found maximum in middle portion cutting of 15cm length treated with 1000 ppm IAA. It showed that the apical portion of 25 cm length cuttings treated with IAA and IBA resulted in maximum sprouting, rooting percentage, root length, fresh biomass and dry biomass production.

Twenty two Jatropha curcas L. seed sources representing the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan were evaluated to assess the genetic variability of seed and seedling traits during April to October, 2005 under statistically randomized block design with three replications to study the genetic variability of seed and seedling traits of Jatropha curcas L. The characters studied were 100 seed weight, seed length, seed width, germination percentage, germinative energy, seedling height, seedling collar diameter, number of leaves and seedling survival percentage. Genotypic variances were higher than the environmental variances for all the characters, thereby, indicating their importance for selection. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was high for seedling survival percentage, seedling height and germination percentage. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance expressed as percent mean was observed for seedling survival, germinative energy, seedling height and germination percentage. The characters namely seedling collar diameter, 100 seed weight and seed width exhibited high heritability coupled with medium genetic advance expressed as percent mean.

Annatto, a naturally obtained colour is a potential and valuable Non Wood Forest Product (NWFP). It is obtained from the seeds of plant species Bixa orellana L. The present experiment was carried out to find the efficacy of different oils used for annatto colour extraction. Experiment was started with the pretreatment of seeds of B. orellana with soaking in water at 0%, 50%, 100% and 150% (v/w) for 24 hrs at room temperature and colour extraction with castor oil at 100°C showed that maximum bixin (%) was found from the pretreated seeds with 50% (v/w) water soaking i.e., 0.46% bixin. Similarly for oil soluble annatto extraction method, the maximum extraction of bixin (0.99 %) was found with castor oil at 120°C for 1 hr and least bixin (0.03 %) was recorded with mustard oil at 60 o C temperature for 1 hr. Sesame oil and ground nut oil were also showed better extractability. Out of different treatments, castor oil at 120°C for 1 hr gave better result with respect to bixin extraction as compared to others.

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