Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar has achieved major breakthrough in determining sex of plants of economic importance. A technique has been developed by the university with which male and female Jojoba plants can be identified even when they are one month old.<br/><br/>Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. K.S. Khokhar said that this technique of sex determination in jojoba has been developed for the first time in the world and a patent had been filed for the same. Jojoba plant is known for the high oil contents in its seeds. The seeds possessed 40-60 per cent oil which is being commercially used in cosmetics, soaps, lubricants, etc..<br/><br/>He said that since Jojoba was very slow growing dioecious plant with separate male and female plants, the sex could be identified when the plant bloom for the first time 3-4 year after germination.<br/><br/>HAU Director of Research, Dr. R.P. Narwal, Head of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Department, Dr. K.S. Boora and Dean, College of Basic Sciences have commended the research. They said it would help in increasing production of vegetable oil in the country.