<i>Jatropha curcas L</i>. and <i>J. macrocarpa</i> Griseb: Seed Morphology, Viability, Dormancy, Germination and Growth of Seedlings

Toachieve a good production of a crop, it is essential to know the ability of thespecies to successfully complete two critical stages in the life cycle such asgermination and seedling establishment. In this paper we study in comparative form structureof the seed, the importance of tegument in dormancy, the effect of acceleratedaging on seed germination and viability, and the early and late growth in J. curcas and J. macrocarpa. External morphology of the seeds allow difference and internally also the embryos show evidentdifferences. J. macrocarpa germination is around 0% - 4%. The total removal oftegument showed a 50% increase and the other treatments between 0% - 10%. Aging accelerated by Tetrazolium test allowed acomparative analysis of VP and GP. J.curcas maintains both to 96 h,while J. macrocarpa the seed viability is registered along theall treatment. J. macrocarpa seeds have less synchronicitythan those of J. curcas. ABA andJAs were detected in tegument of J.macrocarpa and J.curcas seeds. JA could have a roll in inhibition of germination of J. macrocarpa seeds. Earlyand late growth, FW and DW of root, hypocotyl, epicotyl and leaf of J.curcas were significantlydifferent in both species.