Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ECO-GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION OF SEED TRAITS, OIL CONTENT AND CATEGORIZATION OF JATROPHA CURCAS (L.) ACCESSIONS

K. Subramanyam, Muralidhara Rao Dowlathabad, N. Devanna and K. Subramanyam

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the variation in seed traits and oil content of 40 accessions of Jatropha curcas collected from different eco agro climatic zones in India. There were differences in seed size, 100-seed weight and oil content between accessions. Maximum seed length (17.66 mm) was observed in OTRI\JC\44 followed by OTRI\JC\29. Minimum seed length (15.95 mm). Maximum seed weight was recorded in OTRI\JC\20, (68.30 g) and least (49.60 g) was recorded in OTRI\JC\66. The oil content variation range from 17.33 % in OTRI\JC\87 to 39.40 in OTRI\JC\44. Based on the seed oil content, these accessions are being categorized into three categories. Low oil content accessions: having <30% seed oil content. Moderate oil content accessions: having 30-35% seed oil content. High oil content accessions: having 35- 40%.