Structure and development of fruit and seed of Jatropha gossypiifolia L.

Abstract

The structure and development of fruit and seed of Jatropha gossypifolia L. has been studied with reference to functional relationship with dehiscence of fruit. J. gossypifolia belongs to the subfamily Crotonoideae of Euphorbiaceae with Pseudanthium and trichomes that cause irritation to the skin. The fruit is a schizocarpic tricocca; abscission tissue located in carpophore and septum is responsible for loculicidal and septicidal dehiscence. The outer epidermis, mesoderm and inner epidermis of the ovary wall has been differentiated into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp respectively. The seed originates from the anatropous, bitegmic and crossinucellate ovule. J. gossypifolia differs from J. curcas in lacking the patches of thin-walled cells in exotesta and the presence of post-chalazal vascular bundles. On the basis of fruit and seed anatomy, interrelationships with other members of Crotonoideae have been discussed.