Eco-Physiology of Jatropha Curcas in Semi-Dry Environment : Eco-physiological responses of Jatropha grown on semi-dry land in India

Jatropha is a perennial shrub that belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. The plant grows upto a height of 3-5m, but it can also reach heights of upto 8m under favourable conditions. It is recognized as a bioenergy crop in Mexico,Central America,Brazil,Bolivia,Peru,Argentina,and Paraguay. It is raised on land unsuited to agriculture containing oil content in the seeds ~35% with minimal irrigation and management. These characteristics have led to the scale-up of Jatropha plantations among millions of marginal farmers and landless people across India through attractive schemes. It is expected to be planted on 12.8106 ha by 2015, inview of its global economic importance. Extreme environmental conditions,i.e.high temp. or drought, may affect photosynthetic activity. Photosynthesis is particularly sensitive to drought because the stomata close to conserve water due to stomatal dynamics to sustain the hydric status of the plants. Jatropha plantations are found to be prone to flooding and are vulnerable to drought in planting years. Therefore,the impact of epigenetics on Jatropha seedlings is assessed for its large-scale cultivation to enhance future plant production.