Efficient plant regeneration from immature embryo cultures of Jatropha curcas, a biodiesel plant

Jatropha curcas L. (Physic nut) is a commercially important non-edible oil seed crop known for its use as an alternate source of biodiesel. In order to investigate the morphogenic potential of immature embryo, explants from four developmental stages were cultured on medium supplemented with combinations of auxins and cytokinins. It was found that the size of embryo is critical for the establishment of callus. Immature embryos (1.1-1.5 cm) obtained from the fruits 6 weeks after pollination showed a good response of morphogenic callus induction (85.7%) and subsequent plant regeneration (70%) with the maximum number of plantlets (4.7/explant) on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with IBA (0.5 $mg\;l^{-1}$) and BA (1.0 $mg\;l^{-1}$). The above medium when supplemented with growth adjuvants such as 100 $mg\;l^{-1}$ casein hydrolysate + 200 $mg\;l^{-1}$ L-glutamine + 8.0 $mg\;l^{-1}$ $CuSO_4$ resulted in an even higher frequency of callus induction (100%). Plant regeneration (90%) with the maximum number of plantlets (10/explant) was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 500 $mg\;l^{-1}$ polyvinyl pyrrolidone + 30 $mg\;l^{-1}$ citric acid + 1 $mg\;l^{-1}$ BA + 0.5 $mg\;l^{-1}$ Kn + 0.25 $mg\;l^{-1}$ IBA. It was observed that plantlet regeneration could occur either through organogenesis of morphogenic callus or via multiplication of pre-existing meristem in immature embryos. The age of immature embryos and addition of a combination of growth adjuvants to the culture medium appear to be critical for obtaining high regeneration rates. Well-developed shoots rooted on half-halfstrength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 $mg\;l^{-1}$ IBA and 342 $mg\;l^{-1}$ trehalose. The rooted plants after acclimatization were successfully transferred to the field in different agro-climatic zones in India. This protocol has been successfully evaluated on five elite lines of J. curcas.