Abstract

Jatropha has emerged as one of the potential biofuel crop across the world. However, the yield instability coupled with the associated productivity issues are the major factors delimiting the promotion of Jatropha as an economically viable crop. Hence attempts were made to improve the productivity and vigour through interspecific hybridization programme which resulted in development of promising back cross clones. These were evaluated for variability and genetic attributes of seed physical characteristics. All the 27 Jatropha back cross clones exhibited significant variability in seed attributes. Six back cross clones viz., HC 23, HC 21, HC 17, HC 14, HC 8 and HC 6 exhibited superiority in terms of hundred seed weight and three back cross clones HC 23, HC 6 and HC 1 exhibited higher oil content. The genetic estimate study indicated that seed oil content expressed higher PCV and GCV and hundred seed weight exhibited higher heritability. The path analysis indicated that the seed length exerted maximum positive direct effect on oil content followed by hundred seed weight. In a holistic perspective, six back cross clones for hundred seed weight and three back cross clones for seed oil content expressed superiority which could be used in further improvement and promotional programme of Jatropha as biofuel crop

Keywords: Bio-fuel, jatropha, heritability