Reproductive biology of the biofuel plant Jatropha curcas in its center of origin.

Genetic Tracing of Jatropha curcas L. from Its Mesoamerican Origin to the World

Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha), a shrub species of the family Euphorbiaceae, has been recognized as a promising biofuel plant for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, recent attempts at commercial cultivation in Africa and Asia have failed because of low productivity. It is important to elucidate genetic diversity and relationship in worldwide Jatropha genetic resources for breeding of be...

Antiquity, botany, origin and domestication of Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae), a plant species with potential for biodiesel production.

Jatropha curcas is a multi-purpose plant species, with many advantages for biodiesel production. Its potential oil productivity is 1.9 t/ha, beginning the fourth year after planting. Nevertheless, limitations such as high harvest cost, lack of scientific konowledge and low profitability have prevented it from being utilized commercially. In order to provide information that could be useful...

Sex expression and floral diversity in Jatropha curcas: a population study in its center of origin

Sex expression and floral morphology studies are central to understand breeding behavior and to define the productive potential of plant genotypes. In particular, the new bioenergy crop Jatropha curcas L. has been classified as a monoecious species. Nonetheless, there is no information about its reproductive diversity in the Mesoamerican region, which is considered its center of origin and dive...

Pharmacognostic Studies of the Jatropha Curcas Leaves

The J. curcas is considered as a biofuel plant, but the leaves are traditionally used as an antiinflammatory and anticoagulant. In present investigation, the detailed pharmacognostic study of J. curcas leaf is carried out to lay down the standards which could be useful in future experimental studies. The study includes macroscopy, microscopy, preliminary phytochemical screening and physicochemi...

Major Diseases of the Biofuel Plant, Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas)