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

The study in relation to floral biology conducted at Ludhiana (central plain region of Punjab, India) exhibited that Jatropha curcas flowered for two seasons viz. April till June and July till November. Male and female flowers 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 flowers 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 flowers were produced in the same inflorescence but female flowers 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.