FLORAL BIOLOGY AND BREEDING SYSTEM OF JATROPHA CURCAS IN NORTH-WESTERN INDIA.

The study in relation to loral biology conducted at Ludhiana (central plain region of Punjab, India) exhibited that Jatropha curcas lowered for two seasons viz. April till June and July till November. Male and female lowers opened 7 to 10 days after bud formation. Fruiting was visible 26.5 to 30.2 days after bud formation. Fruit setting ranged from 37.0 to 61.6% and the anthesis of male and female lowers occurred between 0600 to 0700 hours and 0700 to 0800 hours respectively. Anther dehiscence was observed after 0800 hours. Flowers were unisexual and male and female lowers were produced in the same inlorescence but female lowers were bigger. The male to female ratio was 13.4:1. Mean number of pollen per anther was 122.3 and ranged from 61.9 to 195.1. Mean pollen viability was 71.6%. Results of the breeding system showed fruit setting of 93.2, 72.2, 36.2 and 79.2% in cross pollination, self pollination, apomixis and open pollination respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]