Full Length Research Paper

Effect of phytoprotein treatment on Jatropha curcas for wasteland reclamation

Mousumi Debnath¹* and H. N. Verma²

¹Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, JECRC Foundation, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Applied Sciences, Tonk road, Jaipur, India -303905.

²Institute of Biotechnology and allied sciences, Seedling Academy of Design, Technology and Management, Jagatpura, Jaipur, India-302016.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mousumi.debnath@gmail.com.

Accepted 31 January, 2008

Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) is a perennial oil yielding plant. Jatropha is also host to a large number of pathogens such as Cercospora sp. The systemic resistance and overall performance was enhanced by seed soak treatment with leaf extract of Clerodendrum aculeatum. On treatment, the treated plants not only showed systemic resistance but also showed marked enhancement in the plant vegetative growth, rooting, flowering, fruiting and seed formation. Mechanisms underlying this may due the synthesis of a new virus inhibitory phytoprotein produced in cells perceiving signals from systemic resistance inducers or ribosome-inactivating functions of these antiviral proteins. These treated Jatropha curcas can prove to be a miracle plant by turning wasteland into a money making land.

Key words: Jatropha curcas, biodiesel, phytoprotein , Clerodendrum aculeatum.