Direct shoot organogenesis from hypocotyl explants of Jatropha curcas L. an important bioenergy feedstock

Abstract

Multiple shoots were induced on hypocotyl segments reared from in vitro germinated seedlings of Jatropha curcas L., using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with N6-benzyl adenine (BA) and kinetin (kin) either alone or in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The combined treatment of 7.05 mu m kin and 1.425 mu m IAA resulted in maximum shoot production with an average shoot bud initiation of 12.1 per explant. The regenerated microshoots were transferred to root induction medium containing half-strength MS salts supplemented with either indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or IAA. Rooting of microshoots was best achieved on half-strength MS medium supplemented with IBA (9.8 mu m). Rooted plantlets were subsequently acclimatized under green house condition and the plantlets showed 70% survival.