Oil Content Variation in Different Parts and Across Different Species of Jatropha

Jatropha is drought tolerant perennial plant and has received extensive attention for use of its seed oil as a commercial source of fuel. This plant is used in traditional medicine. Preparations of all parts of the plant including seeds, leaves and bark, fresh or as a decoction are used in traditional medicine and for veterinary purpose. Also, the bark is being used for making paper. In this experiment, Capsule size (20.83 g), Capsule weight (244.12 g), Seed index (54.79 g), Capsule fertility (94.66%), Kernel shell ratio (35.24 g) was recorded highest and hulling % was recorded lowest (36.26%) in three splits capsules across all the classes. Accession no.131 (44.65%) and 61 (78.70 g) recorded highest oil content and seed index across 41 selected accessions. The plants within accessions of first harvest showed highest (23.44%) mean for oil content while plants of third harvest recorded highest (63.22 g) of seed index across all the harvests. Kernel across four classes of splits recorded highest (52.58%) oil content against seed coat, whole seeds and hull of capsule. The tender stem of Jatropha plant showed highest oil (6.35%) content among other plant J. podagrica showed higher oil content (32.75%) than J. glandulifera and J. gossipifolia