GENETIC EVALUATION OF JATROPHA (JATROPHA CURCAS LINN.) GENOTYPES

A study was conducted at Jatropha Research Station of Phytosalinity Discipline, Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute, Chorvadla, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. The objective was to determine the extent of variability, GCV, PCV, heritability, genetic advance and genetic gain for 14 characters in nine genotypes (including two non-toxic sp.) of Jatropha curcas L. i.e. Buret, Chikhla, Kangaroo, PC-26, PC-27, Ranpur, Rotinda, Shamlaji and Zanjmer. Healthy branch cuttings collected from nine sources from western India representing the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat were evaluated for their growth performance from nursery stage (3 months) to first bearing in field (1.5 years). Highly significant differences among genotypes were observed for most of the characters except primary branches in all genotypes. Higher phenotypic coefficients of variations were observed for plant height, plant canopy, collar diameter, number of primary and secondary branches, average seed weight, number of seeds and capsules, number of leaves, seed yield and oil content. The traits like seed yield, plant canopy, number of leaves, seed oil and kernel oil had higher genetic components than environmental components. Study concludes that plant canopy, seed yield and number of leaves, seed oil and kernel oil content showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance. So these may be considered for selection to improve jatropha varieties/genotypes.