Application of GA3, Ethrel and Copper Sulphate on Jatropha curcas L.

Effect of various plant growth substances viz., GA3 (25, 50,100ppm), Ethrel (1500, 2000, 2500ppm), Copper sulphate (0.1, 0.2, 0.5%) as foliar spray treatment applied during January to October 2009 was studied at 15 days intervals. The flowering behaviour, sex-expression and yield of Jatropha curcas L was investigated during 2009 in Randomized Block Design (RBD) at the College Farm. It was noticed that GA3 50ppm resulted in increased number of inflorescence per plant, number of flower per inflorescence, number of (male/female) flowers, number of fruits per inflorescence, number of fruits per plant,100 seed weight and fruit as well as seed yield per plants in plant treated with GA3 50ppm as compared to control. The Male: Female flower ratio was the lowest at 14th spray stage under majority of treatments indicating increased number of female flowers which is ultimately reflected by increased fruit and seed yield.GA3 50ppm proved to be the best treatment which was followed by Ethrel 2000ppm and GA3 100ppm in improving the number of inflorescence, sex modification and yield of jatropha curcas L.