Table 1.

Effects of R4-368 inoculation on the early growth parameters of Jatropha

Treatments a	Relative chlorophyll content	Nitrogenase activity b	SVI c	RG d	Biomass e
Control	34.91 ± 3.91	2.15 ± 0.25	2024.2 ± 33.7	23.50 ± 2.50	117.9 ± 3.67
R4-368	36.13 ± 3.13	8.70 ± 0.25	3182.0 ± 170.5	25.76 ± 2.76	153.9 ± 5.83
LSD (P ≤ 0.05)	1.94	1.24	134.2	0.65	14.2

^aAfter seed soaking, the seeds (50 seeds/replicate, n = 3) were drained and sown in trays containing pot mixture and then placed in a glass house and maintained at 28°C.

^bValue expressed in nmol C₂H₄ day^-1 seedlings^-1. Each value represents mean ± standard deviation (SD) of three replicates per treatment.

^cSeedling vigour index [36] was calculated using the formula: SVI = % germination × seedling length (shoot length + root length) in cm.

^dRate of germination (RG) was calculated using the following formula, RG = ∑ Ni/Di where Ni is the number of germinated seeds in a given time, and Di is the time unit (day).

^eEach value represents mean of three replicates and expressed in grams. Samples were measured at 45 DAS.