Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) has shown great potential as a Biodiesel yielding plant. It grows wild in many parts of India and can be easily cultivated on waste or degraded land with least inputs. It has a small gestation period of three year and the seeds contain 4 to 40% non edible oil. The oil has a high cetane value and can be used directly in diesel engines or added to petrodiesel (5% to 20%) as an extender or transesterified to Biodiesel.  The seed cake can be used as a feed in biogas plants and the glycerin obtained as a by product of can be used by the pharma and soap industry.

 Tissue culture of Jatropha

    J. curcas can easily be propagated by seeds and cuttings, but the seeds are heterozygous i.e. not true to mother type and the cuttings for propagation can only be obtained seasonally. 

     Advantages of Tissue Culture Planting Material

·         True to the type of mother plant.

·         Pest and disease free plantlets.

·         Uniform growth, increases yield.

·         Early maturity of crop - maximum land use is possible in a low land holding country like India.

·         Round the year planting possible as plantlets are made available throughout the year.

·         New and high yielding varieties can be introduced and multiplied in a short duration.