Abstract
▶ Toxic and non-toxic varieties of Jatropha curcas are chemically and genetically different. ▶ An efficient method for plant regeneration through direct organogenesis from petiole explants of non-toxic J. curcas was developed. ▶ TDZ is most potent cytokinin for high-frequency plant regeneration.
Jatropha curcas, a multipurpose shrub has acquired significant economic potential as biodiesel plant. The seeds or pressed cake is toxic due to the presence of toxic substances and is not useful as food/fodder despite having the best protein composition. A simple, efficient, and reproducible method for plant regeneration through direct organogenesis from petiole explants of non-toxic J. curcas was developed using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ). The best induction of shoot buds (57.61%), and number of shoot buds (4.98) per explant were obtained when in vitro petiole explants were placed horizontally on MS medium supplemented with 2.27μM TDZ. The Induced shoot buds were transferred to MS medium containing 10μM kinetin (Kn), 4.5μM 6-benzyl aminopurine (BA), and 5.5μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for shoot proliferation and subsequent elongation was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 2.25μM BA and 8.5μM IAA. The elongated shoots could be rooted on half-strength MS medium with 15μM IBA, 11.4μM IAA and 5.5μM NAA with more than 90% survival rate.