In Vitro Propagation of Jatropha Curcas

Jatropha curcas is a drought-resistant perennial, growing well in marginal/poor soil. Its seeds have an oil content of 37%. The oil can be combusted as fuel without being refined. It burns with clear smoke-free flame, and has been tested successfully as fuel for simple diesel engine. Jatropha has been one of the potential species to contribute to the  fuel crises solution.

Scientists from the Indonesian Research Centre of Biotechnology (LIPI) studied how to provide plantlets of selected individuals of Jatropha curcas propagation either through shoot multiplication, organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis. They used explants obtained from individuals producing the highest number of large fruit per plant. MS medium containing BAP or TDZ were used on shoot multiplication by culturing young shoot taken from the field or shoot germinated from axis embryos. They found that on 1 mg/l BAP- containing medium, multiplication rate was up to 3 times. MS medium containing 1.5 mg/l TDZ and 0.25 mg/l IAA resulted to the highest percentage (36.06%) of 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm leaf explants that produce embryogenic callus. Regeneration of these somatic embryos was conducted on MS medium containing lower concentration of TDZ. The researchers recommended this procedure to propagate genetically confirmed mother plants for mass propagation.

 For details on this research, email Nurhamidar Rahman at midarahman@gmail.com or visit http://www.biotek.lipi.go.id/. For news on biotechnology in Indonesia, contact Dewi Suryani of IndoBIC at dewisuryani@biotrop.org