Induction of Callus From Leaf Explants of Jatropha Curcas.

The use of vegetable oil as biodiesel feedstock is being considered as a suitable alternative to limited fossil fuel reserves. Jatropha curcas fruits concentrate about 40% of oil, which can be extracted for biodiesdel production. Studies are underway for production of Jatropha curcas, through in vitro micropropagation. The objective of this study was to evaluate callus induction using Jatropha curcas leaves as explants. This work was performed at the Biotechnology Laboratory of Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) Ilha Solteira Campus. The explants were collected from plants grown on the UNESP’s greenhouse and taken to the laboratory for aseptic and subsequent inoculation in culture medium. The aseptic procedures were done with detergent, ethanol (70%) and sodium hypochlorite (3%). The explants were inoculated on MS medium with concentrations of 1 mg L^-1 of benzylaminopurine (BAP),  0,1 mg L^-1 of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0 µM L^-1,  2,27 µM L^-1 , 5,0 µM L^-1  and 7,0 µM L^-1 of thidiazuron (TDZ) as the treatments. The explants were left in darkness at 25 ± 2 ° C for seven days. According to the variables analyzed 45 days after inoculation, there was no statistical difference among treatments. However, were observed 100% induction of callus in the treatments without TDZ and with 2,27  µM L^-1 TDZ. The aseptic procedures were effective in controlling bacteria and fungi.