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Pak. J. Bot., 47(2): 537-541, 2015.

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EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE AND WATER ON FLOWERING AND FRUITING OF JATROPHA CURCAS L.

SHIYU MA, LANYING ZHOU^*, GUANGLAN PU, BAOSHENG LEI, LIQIN HOU, XIAOHUI DAI AND TING YU

Abstract: Field survey was conducted at three different altitudes in the dry-hot valley of Chin-sha River，China. The variances of flowering and fruiting and the quantity of fruit at three different altitudes areas (Low 800m, Middle 1,200m and High 1,700m) were observed and recorded. Data of 100-seeds weight came from 9 experimental groups which classified by three fruiting periods (early, middle and late) at three different altitudes. To ensure single variable, water effect was studied in the cline banks where situated in the 1,200m and controlled by artificial irrigation. The results showed that flowering and fruiting time under different altitude had significant difference, the lower altitude, the earlier flowering. Fruit number in the middle elevation was remarkably higher than the other two altitude areas. Fruit quantity in early and middle fruiting period accounted for 85 percent at 1,200m, which was significantly higher than the late fruiting period. 100-seeds weight between low and middle elevation, early and middle fruiting period had no significant difference respectively, but they were, respectively, higher than the high altitude and late fruiting period. The maximum of the 100-seeds weight was 65.17g while the lightest was only 49.51g. Water promoted flowering earlier, fruiting delayed but open flower and whole fruiting stage extended. Average fruit numbers in the early and middle stages with regularly irrigation were 220.8 per tree and 195.6 per tree respectively, which were 2.26 times as the same period of plant without irrigation. Therefore, in hilly areas, J. curcas optimal elevation is 800 -1,200m and have high demand for water during flowering and fruiting period.  

Key words: Jatropha curcas, phenology, altitude, water, 100-seeds weight.

Sichuan Agricultural University, Faculty of Forestry, 625014, Ya’an, China

^*Corresponding author e-mail: 949460359@qq.com