120 SEED AND SEEDLING CHARACTERS OF JATROPHA t
GHOSH & SINGH 121 by select<strong>in</strong>g large <strong>and</strong> heavy <strong>seed</strong>s. The performance <strong>of</strong> <strong>seed</strong> immediately after germ<strong>in</strong>ation is governed by <strong>seed</strong> size (Willan 1985). Heavy <strong>and</strong> large <strong>seed</strong>s conta<strong>in</strong> more food reserves than smaller ones, which is helpful <strong>in</strong> germ<strong>in</strong>ation by provid<strong>in</strong>g more energy (Lusk 1995). Similar f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs were also reported by Ponnamal et al. (1993). For example, <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> the zone humid western Himalayan region, <strong>seed</strong>s from PJSet-1 had maximum <strong>seed</strong> weight <strong>and</strong> the highest germ<strong>in</strong>ation percent. Seed size <strong>and</strong> weight are two important <strong>characters</strong> for improv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>seed</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g productivity <strong>and</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g nursery cost through selection <strong>of</strong> quality <strong>seed</strong>s, apart from select<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> del<strong>in</strong>eat<strong>in</strong>g provenances (Armstrong & Westoby 1993; Isik 1986; Uniyal et al. 2002). The purpose for provenance test<strong>in</strong>g is to measure the pattern <strong>of</strong> genetic variation <strong>and</strong> to aid <strong>in</strong> selection <strong>of</strong> well-adapted <strong>and</strong> highly productive <strong>seed</strong> sources for silvicultural practices. With<strong>in</strong> the zone sub-humid to humid eastern <strong>and</strong> south eastern upl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> arid western pla<strong>in</strong>, highest <strong>seed</strong> weight was observed for Danikundi <strong>and</strong> Bawal provenances respectively, at the same time both provenances produced highest <strong>seed</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g length <strong>in</strong> their respective zones. Hence, it is clear that <strong>seed</strong>s <strong>with</strong> greater <strong>seed</strong> weight produced <strong>seed</strong>l<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>with</strong> higher shoot length. This may be due to greater nutrient reserves <strong>in</strong> larger <strong>seed</strong>s (Kathju et al. 1978). Similar trend was also reported for Virola koschyni (Gonzales 1993), Hardwickia b<strong>in</strong>ata (Ponnamal et al. 1993) <strong>and</strong> Albizia lebbek (Roy 1985). Thus it can be concluded that <strong>seed</strong> size has operational importance. Provenances <strong>with</strong> higher <strong>seed</strong> weight also possessed higher length <strong>and</strong> vice versa. Provenances PJ Set-1, <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> humid western Himalayan region, Bawal, <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> arid western pla<strong>in</strong>, Danikundi, <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> sub-humid to humid eastern <strong>and</strong> south eastern upl<strong>and</strong>s, NRCAF-13, <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> subhumid Sutlej Ganga alluvial pla<strong>in</strong>, Na<strong>in</strong>pur, <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> semi-arid lava plateaus <strong>and</strong> central highl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> TNMC-3, <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> humid to semi-arid Western Ghats <strong>and</strong> Karnataka plateaus, had the highest <strong>seed</strong> length along <strong>with</strong> highest <strong>seed</strong> weight. Similar results were also reported <strong>in</strong> Albizia lebbeck (Bhat & Chauhan 2002; Luna et al. 2006). Seed weight is also related to oil content. Zones <strong>with</strong> higher <strong>seed</strong> weight also had higher oil per cent. The significant difference <strong>in</strong> various <strong>seed</strong> morphological <strong>and</strong> <strong>seed</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g <strong>characters</strong> <strong>of</strong> J. <strong>curcas</strong> provenances is <strong>in</strong>dicative <strong>of</strong> the possibility <strong>of</strong> select<strong>in</strong>g large <strong>and</strong> heavier <strong>seed</strong>s for further improvement work. Significant zonal impact revealed that environmental factors contribute <strong>in</strong> chang<strong>in</strong>g external appearance as the species grows <strong>in</strong> a wide range <strong>of</strong> ecological conditions <strong>and</strong> hence population can be expected to experience markedly selective pressure on <strong>seed</strong> <strong>characters</strong>. The zonal <strong>and</strong> provenance variation could partly arise from genetic diversity which needs to be studied <strong>in</strong> detail. Acknowledgements Authors are thankful to the authorities <strong>of</strong> Indira G<strong>and</strong>hi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, India, for provid<strong>in</strong>g necessary assistance. F<strong>in</strong>ancial support was provided by National Oil<strong>seed</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Vegetable Oils Development Board (M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, Government <strong>of</strong> India), Gurgaon, India. References Armstrong, D. P. & M. Westoby. 1993. Seedl<strong>in</strong>g from large <strong>seed</strong>s tolerate defoliation better. A test us<strong>in</strong>g phylogenetically <strong>in</strong>dependent contrasts. Ecology 74: 1090-1100. Banerji, R., A. R. Chowdhury, G. Mishra, G. Sudarsanam, S.C. Verma & G. S. Shrivastava. 1985. <strong>Jatropha</strong> <strong>curcas</strong> <strong>seed</strong> oils for energy. Biomass 8: 277- 282. Bhat, G. S. & P. S. Chauhan. 2002. Provenance variation <strong>in</strong> <strong>seed</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>seed</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g traits <strong>of</strong> Albizia lebbeck Benth. Journal <strong>of</strong> Tree Sciences 21: 52-57. Burley, J. & D. G. Nikles (eds.). 1973. Tropical Provenance <strong>and</strong> Progeny Research <strong>and</strong> International Cooperation. Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford, Engl<strong>and</strong>. Forson, F. K. 2004. Performance <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jatropha</strong> oil blends <strong>in</strong> a diesel eng<strong>in</strong>e. Renewable Energy 29:1135-1145. Gonzales, J. F. 1993. Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>seed</strong> size on germ<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>and</strong> <strong>seed</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g vigor <strong>of</strong> Virola koschyni Warb. Forest Ecology <strong>and</strong> Management 57: 275-281. Gubitz, G. M., M. Mittelbach & M. Trabi. 1999. Exploitation <strong>of</strong> the tropical <strong>seed</strong> plant <strong>Jatropha</strong> <strong>curcas</strong> L. Bioresources Technology 67:73-82. Isik, K. 1986. Altitud<strong>in</strong>al variation <strong>in</strong> P<strong>in</strong>us brutia: Seed <strong>and</strong> <strong>seed</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g characteristics. Silvae Genetica 35: 58- 67. Kathju, S., A. N. Lahiri & K. A. Shankarnarayan. 1978. Influence <strong>of</strong> <strong>seed</strong> size <strong>and</strong> composition on dry matter yield <strong>of</strong> Cenchrus ciliaris. Experientia 34: 848-849. Keith, O. 2000. A review <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jatropha</strong> <strong>curcas</strong>: an oil plant <strong>of</strong> unfulfilled promise. Biomass <strong>and</strong> Bioenergy 19:1- 15.
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