Selection of genotypes of the biofuel crop Jatropha curcas collected in Mexico using a multivariate approach

Abstract

Jatropha curcas L. has attracted much interest towards its establishment as an extensive crop, due to the high amount and quality of oil from its seeds, which can be transformed into biofuels. However, a limitation is the lack of varieties with outstanding agronomic performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to select candidate genotypes of J. curcas collected in Mexico and grown under common garden conditions, using a multivariate approach. Twenty-nine genotypes were studied during the cycle of February 2014 to January 2015, evaluating 12 quantitative and six qualitative traits. The data were processed by multivariate analysis, and the technique of paired comparisons was utilized for the selection of genotypes. Fruit production was presented from February to November, with the accession MAP-8 being the most productive. The most important variables, identified by Principal Component Analysis, were productive cycle, dehiscence, number of inflorescences, number of ripe fruits, pulp fresh weight, number of seeds, seed weight, seed dry weight, plant height, diameter of stem, and oil potential yield. The outstanding genotypes were ARR-7 with 88 points, CDCU-1 with 85 points, MAP-8 with 84 points and PIN-1 with 81 points. The results of this study contribute to the selection of candidate genotypes for planting in the field but will require further evaluation in the context of environmentally friendly practices.