Evaluation and selection of Jatropha genotypes for biofuel

Abstract

Jatropha curcas L., a monoecious perennial shrub, has received attention nationwide during the past two decades. In 2006, the Indonesian government has decided to option for Jatropha and palm oils for in country biofuel production. To support the program, development of high yielding jatropha varieties is necessary. This paper reviews the latest Jatropha improvement program in Indonesia. From 2005 to 2006, germplasm collection was mobilized to various provinces in Jawa, Sumatera, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara islands and successfully collected a sizeable amount of jatropha germplasm which serves as a base population for selection. By applying a simple recurrent breeding selection based on fruit count per year, a significant improvement has been achieved. Seed yield productivity increased more than six-fold, from 0.36-ton dry seed per ha in the initial population (IP-0) to 2.4-ton seed yield per hectare in the third cycle of selection (IP-3). To improve further the seed yield per hectare, jatropha hybrid varieties was developed involving superior provenances. Hybrid variety named Jatropha Energy Terbarukan (JET) variety-2, was released in 2017 with seed yield potential of 2.6 ton per hectare. The potential use of this high yielding genotypes for biofuel is discussed.