Abstract
The purposes of this study were to determine the distribution and climatic patterns of current and future physic nut (Jatropha curcas) cultivation regions in Mexico, and to identify possible locations for in vivo germplasm banks establishment, using geographic information systems. Current climatic data were processed by Floramap software to obtain distribution maps and climatic patterns of regions where wild physic nuts could be found. DIVA-GIS software analyzed current climatic data (Worldclim model) and climatic data generated by CCM3 model to identify current and future physic nut cultivation regions, respectively. The distribution map showed that physic nut was present in most of the tropical and subtropical areas of Mexico, which corresponded to three agroclimatic regions. Climate types were Aw2, Aw1, and Bs1, for regions 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Nontoxic genotypes were associated with region 2, and toxic genotypes were associated with regions 1 and 3. According to the current and future cultivation regions identified, the best suitable ones to establish in vivo germplasm collections were the coast of Michoacán and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, located among the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas.
Highlights
Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) is a native species to tropical America and belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae
According to Heller (1996), Mexico and northern Central America are considered the center of the origin of physic nut; there is controversy about that
Considered an underutilized plant (Heller, 1996), nowadays physic nut has strong significance due to its high oil content, which is desirable for producing biodiesel, lubricating oils, and soap (Wiesenhütter, 2003)
Summary
Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) is a native species to tropical America and belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It can be naturally found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico in both wild and semi-cultivated areas (Cano Asseleih, 1992). According to Heller (1996), Mexico and northern Central America are considered the center of the origin of physic nut; there is controversy about that. Physic nut has been studied and used at a global level (Henning, 2004; Kureel, 2006; Jongschaap et al, 2007). Considered an underutilized plant (Heller, 1996), nowadays physic nut has strong significance due to its high oil content, which is desirable for producing biodiesel, lubricating oils, and soap (Wiesenhütter, 2003).
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