Characterization of Jatropha hybrid clones grown under subtropical conditions of south India

Jatropha curcas L. is a tree borne oilseed crop and growing as a shrub as a living fence in a farmers’ field. Characterization is an initial step for the development of any plant database. The characterization of plant characters (plant height and growth habit), stem characters (stem colour and young shoot colour) and leaf characters viz., juvenile leaf colour, leaf shape, leaf texture, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length and petiole colour was recorded in 56 Jatropha hybrids. There was no difference in stem characters and leaf shape in all the hybrids. The other traits viz., plant height, growth habit, juvenile leaf colour, leaf texture, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length and petiole colour showed variation and categorized qualitatively as per the PPV&FRA descriptors. The plant height varies from 65.6 cm (CJH 1 and CJH 22) to 162.8 cm (CBM 1) and mature leaf length ranged between 4.4 cm (CBM 5) and 17.7 cm (TNMC 7). The results obtained in the present study could be useful for making the plant database for the Jatropha hybrids.