HUNDESSA FUFA2026-03-232018https://etd.hu.edu.et/handle/123456789/1369Jatropha curcas L. is among the important tree crops in the world with a potential for biofuel production. The crop is drought resistant and thrives well in warm tropical climates. Ethiopia has favorable environment for Jatropha production and there is a soaring investors’ interest to produce Jatropha in the country for biodiesel production. However, insufficient good quality of propagation material is a major production constraint. In line with this, a study was undertaken to establish a protocol for in vitro mass propagation of Ethiopian Jatropha using three accessions, viz. Metema, Adami Tulu and Shewa Robit accession through direct and indirect organogenesis. The experiment was laid out in CRD with five replications in factorial arrangement. Nodal and leaf explants were used as explants for direct and indirect organogenesis, respectively. Local bleach (Berekina) at a concentration of 2.5% and 3% for 15min found to be effective for sterilization of leaf and nodal explants, respectively. For direct organogenesis, the highest percentage of shoot induction (86-90%) was achieved when on MS medium with BAP (1.5mg/l) and IBA (0.5 mg/l) for all the three accessions. The maximum (6) number of shoots was obtained for Metema when BAP (0.5mg/l) with Kn (0.5mg/l) was used. Whereas, the maximum (3.2cm) shoot length was recorded for Shewa Robit on media with 0.5mg/l Kn. The highest rooting percentage (84.8-88%) for all accessions and maximum root number (5.43) were recorded on media supplemented with 0.25mg/l IBA. The maximum root length was observed for both Shewa Robit (4.3cm) and Metema (4cm) on media with 0.25mg/l IBA. Whereas, maximum root length (3.8cm) was achieved on media with combination of 0.5mg/l IBA and 0.25mg/l NAA for Adami Tulu accession. For indirect organogenesis, in vitro regeneration protocol was partially achieved through regeneration of adventitious shoots from leaf-derived callus tissue. The medium supplemented with combination of 1mg/l BAP and 1mg/l 2,4-D resulted in maximum percentage of callus (100%) formed for all accessions. The maximum shoot regeneration (66.67%) from callus with 10.13 number of shoot was obtained from Shewa Robit in MS medium fortified with TDZ (0.5 mg/l) and IBA (0.1mg/l). In shoot multiplication, the maximum shoot number (3.5) was obtained from Shewa Robit on media with 0.5mg/l BAP. Whereas, the maximum shoot length was recorded (2.1-2.26cm) for all accessions on media supplemented with combination 0.5 of mg/l BAP and 0.5mg/l Kn. However, the elongated shootlet which transferred into half MS medium containing various concentrations of IBA and NAA failed to induce root growth. On the other hand, micro shoots regenerated via direct organogenesis were well rooted and successfully established in green house environment with survival rate of 86.67% for Shewa Robit followed by 73.33% and 66.67% for Metema and Adami Tulu, respectively. This study provided optimal protocol for micro-propagation of Jatropha accessions through direct organogenesis to boost its production. In order to see further achievement in vitro propagation of Jatropha, it is imperative to include additional accessions and combinations of PGRs.en-USJatropha curcasBiofuelCallusOrganogenesisPlant Growth RegulatorsThesis