Synergistic response of auxin and ethylene on physiology of Jatropha curcas L

Abstract

Jatropha curcas L. is a versatile crop since all its plant material is brought to use either as energy source, industrial or medicinal purpose. Several studies are ongoing in different parts of the world to optimize, enhance and exploit the growth, fruiting cycle and different developmental stages of the plant so that the economic yield of the plants can be utilized to the fullest limits. Foliar application of plant growth regulators such as ethrel (an ethylene releasing compound), indole acetic acid (IAA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 50, 100 and 150 ppm, was found to influence different morpho-physiological characters in Jatropha curcas L, such as plant height, collar diameter, tree spread, flower initiation, number of inflorescence per plant, number of male and female flowers per inflorescence, and the ratio of male: female flowers per inflorescence. Moreover, the leaves chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm value, nitrate reductase activity and proline content were also affected by synergistic response of auxin and ethylene. As higher the plant growth regulators concentration higher was the synergic effect on the Jatropha curcas L physiology.