Germination Enhancement Studies in Jatropha curcas L. by Chemical and Physical Methods
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Physic nut (Jatropha curcas) L. is identified as the most potential tree bearing oil which can be used as biofuel crop belongs to family Euphorbiaceae. The low seed yield and low germination of seed are two important factor encountered by researchers. Therefore, enhancement of germination for raising large scale nursery assumes greater significance. The present investigation involves the use of physical (soaking of seed in water, soaking of seed in water and temperature treatment of 35°C, 40°C, 45°C) and chemicals methods (KCl, CaCl2, FeSO4, ZnSO4, MnSO4, GA3 and Ethrel) to accelerate as well to increase the seed germination percentage. Pre-treating seed with FeSO4 @ 1% and Ethrel @ 0.5% took least number of days (5 days) for initiating germination. Even pre-soaking of seed in water also substantially enhanced germination as it took 7 days to observe the first germinant. The high percentage of germinability was observed when the seed was treated with CaCl2 (93.3%) followed by H2O (86.7%). Treating seed with GA3 @ 25 ppm recorded maximum root to shoot ratio 0.62 followed by MnSO4 @ 1% 0.54, and former differed significantly with KCl @ 3% and Ethrel @ 1%. However, Soaking of Jatropha seeds in water for overnight found to be economical and farmer friendly practice to enhance germination in Jatropha curcas.
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2469148023