Screening of Castor Genotypes for Ricinoleic Acid Content

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important non-edible oilseed crop of Euphorbiaceae family. Castor has enormous significance in the country as it plays an important role in the agricultural economies because it enables them to earn substantial foreign exchange through export of castor beans and oils. It is believed that castor is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa and India. Castor is grown throughout the tropical, warm temperate and subtropical regions between latitudes 40 ̊ South and 52 ̊ North in the world, but the commercial cultivation of castor is carried out in about 30 countries especially in arid and semi-arid region. About 90 per cent of the world’s total castor is grown in India, China and Brazil. India with almost 65 per cent share in castor and its derivatives production enjoys an almost monopolistic situation in world. Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh are the major castor growing states in India.