EFFECT OF AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONE AND STORAGE ENVIRONMENT ON THE QUALITY OF' THE PHYSIC NUT (JATROPHA CURCAS) SEED

Abstract

Jatropha curcas seeds were harvested at brown ripe stage from plants growing in the Guinea Savannah (GSZ), Forest (FZ) and Coastal Savannah (CSZ) Zones in Ghana and were assessed for seed quality at harvest, after seed drying and seed storage. The harvested seeds were dried to 8 and 10 % moisture levels and subjected to two storage conditions FO/1/ March to August, 2007. The principal aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of storage on the quality of 1. curcas seed. Some of the seed characteristics assessed were: seed kernel to shell ratio, thousand seed weight (TSW), seed oil content, percentage seed germination, seedling dry weight, seed vigour index, and fungi associated with the seed. There were no differences in the seeds from the three zones in terms of seed oil content, percentage seed germination, seedling dry weight and seed kernel to shell ratio at harvest. However, seed from the FZ showed superior performance in absolute termsfor most of the parameters measured. After drying, seed irom FZ at both Band 10 % seed moisture had highest TSW, seed oil content, percentage germination and vigour index. The result further indicated that even though cold storage seemingly preserved 1. curcas seedbetter than room storage, it rather promoted fungi survival on the seed. The results suggest thatfresh seed of Jatropha front any of the three zones could be used for planting with satisfactory germination and seedling establishment.