title: Branching, flowering and fruiting of Jatropha curcas treated with ethephon or benzyladenine and gibberellins.
abstract: Jatropha curcas L. has been identified for biofuel production but it presents limited commercial yields due to limited branching and a lack of yield uniformity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of single application of ethephon or a combination of 6-benzyladenine (BA) with gibberellic acid isomers A4 and A7 (GA4+7) on branch induction, flowering and fruit production in jatropha plants with and without leaves. Plants with and without leaves showed differences for growth and reproductive variables. For all variables except inflorescence set, there were no significant statistical interactions between the presence of leaves and plant growth regulators concentration. The total number of flowers per inflorescence was reduced as ethephon concentration was increased. As BA + GA4 +7 concentration increased, seed dry weight increased. Thus, ethephon and BA + GA4 +7 applications appeared to affect flowering and seed production to a greater extent than branching. The inability to discern significant treatment effects for most variables might have been due to the large variability within plant populations studied and thus resulting in an insufficient sample size. Therefore, data collected from this study were used for statistical estimations of sample sizes to provide a reference for future studies.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 St., Homestead, FL, 33031-3314 USA, University of Florida, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead FL , USA.
authors.forename: Anne P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 St., Homestead, FL, 33031-3314 USA, University of Florida, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead FL , USA.
authors.forename: Wagner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vendrame
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Av. Reinaldo Viana, 2630, 39440-000 Janaúba, MG, Brasil, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Janaúba MG , Brasil.
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nietsche
authors.affiliation: Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 St., Homestead, FL, 33031-3314 USA, University of Florida, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead FL , USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.affiliation: Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 3205 College Ave, Davie, FL, 33314-7799 USA, University of Florida, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 St., Homestead, FL, 33031-3314 USA, University of Florida, University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead FL , USA.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schaffer
mesh_terms: D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035264:Flowers; D005638:Fruit; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031286:Jatropha / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000613:Aminobutyrates; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D005875:Gibberellins; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D011687:Purines; C014328:2-amino-4-phenylbutyric acid; C480551:benzylaminopurine; C005073:ethephon