FLORAL BIOLOGY AND BREEDING SYSTEM OF JATROPHA CURCAS IN NORTH-WESTERN INDIA

The study in relation to floral biology conducted at Ludhiana (central plain region of Punjab, India) exhibited that Jatropha curcas flowered for two seasons viz. April till June and July till November. Male and female flowers opened 7 to 10 days after bud formation. Fruiting was visible 26.5 to 30.2 days after bud formation. Fruit setting ranged from 37.0 to 61.6% and the anthesis of male and female flowers occurred between 0600 to 0700 hours and 0700 to 0800 hours respectively. Anther dehiscence was observed after 0800 hours. Flowers were unisexual and male and female flowers were produced in the same inflorescence but female flowers were bigger. The male to female ratio was 13.4:1. Mean number of pollen per anther was 122.3 and ranged from 61.9 to 195.1. Mean pollen viability was 71.6%. Results of the breeding system showed fruit setting of 93.2, 72.2, 36.2 and 79.2% in cross pollination, self pollination, apomixis and open pollination respectively. Kajian tentang biologi bunga yang dijalankan di Ludhiana (daerah dataran tengah Punjap, India) menunjukkan bahawa Jatropha curcas berbunga pada dua musim iaitu April hingga Jun and Julai hingga November. Bunga jantan dan betina kembang 7 hari hingga 10 hari selepas kudup terbentuk. Pembuahan kelihatan 26.5 hari hingga 30.2 hari selepas pembentukan kudup. Kejadian buah berjulat antara 37.0% hingga 61.6% dan antesis bunga jantan dan betina berlaku masing-masing antara pukul 6.00 pagi hingga 7.00 pagi dan 7.00 pagi hingga 8.00 pagi. Pembengangan cepu debunga berlaku selepas pukul 8.00 pagi. Bunga bersifat uniseks dan bunga jantan dan betina dihasilkan pada jambak yang sama. Bagaimanapun bunga betina lebih besar daripada bunga jantan. Nisbah bunga jantan kepada bunga betina ialah 13.4:1. Min jumlah debunga bagi setiap cepu debunga ialah 122.3 dengan julat antara 61.9 hingga 195.1. Min kebolehhidupan debunga ialah 71.6%. Keputusan sistem pembiakan menunjukkan kejadian buah sebanyak 93.2%, 72.2%, 36.2% dan 79.2% masing-masing dalam pendebungaan silang, pendebungaan sendiri, apomiksis dan pendebungaan bebas.