Variability studies of fruit and seed characteristics in Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L) in Himachal Pradesh

Jatropha curcas L as bio-diesel plant can prove very important to Indian economy owing to continuously increasing energy demand. The seeds of this plant yield oil suitable as biofuel for diesel engines. Jatropha plants are found to grow at various places in Himachal Pradesh at different altitudinal/microhabitat conditions in their wild state. The present study was conducted to determine the variation in fruit and seed characteristics in eleven phenotypic superior plants of Jatropha curcas selected under Department of Biotechnology (DBT) funded project during 2008–2009. The studies conducted through the estimation of range, mean, phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variability, heritability, genetic advance and genetic gain. Significant variations were recorded in all the studied parameters. The extent of variations in number of seeds/fruit and seed weight was higher as compared to fruit width, seed width, fruit length and seed length. Owing to high heritability in seed length (79.04%), fruit length (66.61%), fruit width (66.33%) and seed weight (47.55%) there is scope for considerable genetic gain through individual plant selection. On an average Jatropha plant selections namely HP-31 and HP-35 were found to be better on the basis of fruit and seed morphological characteristics.