In vitro regeneration from different ages of petioles of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.)

Abstract

Jatropha curcas L. is an important non-edible oil yielding plant growing in wasteland and dry lands. The experiment was conducted to study the plant regeneration of J. curcas from different ages of petioles. Petioles explant grown on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/l α-naphthalene acetic acid and 0.2 mg/l kinetin showed the highest frequency of callus induction and the same medium was found to be best suited for callus growth in 1st petiole. Percent of somatic embryo formation was higher (35.16%) from the 1st petiole explant on 0.5 mg/l thidiazuron with 0.4 mg/l gibberellic acid. MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l N⁶-benzylaminopurine, 0.5 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid, 0.25 mg/l kinetin recorded the higher somatic embryo germination percentage (66.85%). MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l thidiazuron, 0.1 mg/l N⁶-benzylaminopurine, 0.4 mg/l gibberellic acid was found to be best medium for shoot elongation. Among the auxins tested, the higher frequency of root formation was observed in MS medium supplemented with 0.3 mg/l α-naphthalene acetic acid compared to indole-3-butyric acid and indole-3-acetic acid. The survival rate of in vitro rooted plantlets was dependent on the type of explant source and it varies from 47 to 60%.

Keywords: Euphorbiaceae, petiole, callus, indirect organogenesis, biodiesel, plant growth regulator

African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(2), pp. 265-273, 8 January, 2014