| of
rooting hormones. They found out that mass production of Jatropha
seedlings could be made available at a faster rate and that the
requirements for seedling supply could be met.
They then planted tissue-cultured Jatropha seedlings, whose
growth rates were comparable with or even better than seed-borne
Jatropha seedlings. The tissue-cultured plants were about a meter
high within six months of planting and were beginning to flower
and bear fruit. Those planted from seeds, although they also measured
a meter tall after six months, had not started flowering.
Mr.
Perez spoke of the bright prospect in growing Jatropha as source
of biodiesel since it could easily be mass-produced and propagated.
On
yield estimates (based on India’s experience), he said that
a hectare could yield 2,000–5,000 kilograms of beans depending
on the extent of cultivation. These, in turn, could be converted
to 1,900–4,000 liters of fresh oil. This amount can be processed
to become 1,300–2,000 liters of biodiesel fuel.
“If
idle lands and even public lands are planted with Jatropha, enough
biodiesel could be produced to meet the needs of our country,”
Mr. Perez added.
The
Mendez Organic Farm is a three-year-old plant biotechnology venture
that conducts studies on the improvement of quality seedlings of
high-value crops such as banana and coffee.
It
is located at #7 Int F. Mendoza St., Payapa, Mendez, Cavite, Philippines.
For more details on their research work and services, please text
or call 09164572019 or send e-mail to earthsbestphils@yahoo.com.
(Ma. Rowena M. Baltazar, S&T Media Service; Photo by R. Paelmo,
IAF-UPLB)
|
