We developed simple, improved and reproducible micropropagation process for elite and mature genotype of Jatropha curcas L. through enhanced axillary bud proliferation. On 7 g L-1 agar-gelled Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing 2.0 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.1 mg L-1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 96.67 +/- 3.33% explants produced 1.73 +/- 0.07 shoot buds of 1.27 +/- 0.04 cm per explant. Shoots were multiplied (9.33 +/- 0.09 shoot buds of 2.18 +/- 0.01 cm per nodal segment) by subculturing the in vitro-derived nodal segments on MS medium containing 0.5 mg L-1 each BAP and IAA. On half-strength of MS salt with 2 g L-1 activated charcoal (AC) and 3.0 mg L-1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 73.33 +/- 3.33% of the shoots rooted in vitro. Alternatively the bases of microshoots were treated with 500 mg L-1 IBA for 3 min and transferred onto sterile mixture of soilrite and soil (1:1 v/v). 70.00 +/- 5.77% of shoots rooted ex vitro, which could be acclimatized simultaneously. The rooted plantlets were acclimatized by slow and gradual exposure from high (75-85%) relative humidity (RH) and low (24 -26 degrees C) temperature to low (40-50%) RH and high (30-32 degrees C) temperature. The cloning procedure described is superior to methods reported earlier and has potential applications for large-scale true-totype propagation of J. curcas to supply planting propagules for promotion of commercial plantation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.