Abstract
ABSTRACT The knowledge about genetic diversity of jatropha crop is important for genetic conservation resources and breeding of this species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and performance of jatropha clones through morphological characterization to selection of clonal varieties for biofuels production. The clones were obtained through shoot cuttings from previous selection in a population of half-sibs progenies. The morphoagronomic analyses of clones was carried out at 180 days after transplantation and were evaluated plant height, stem diameter, number of primary branches and number of secondary branches, number of bunches and number of fruits per plant. Evaluating clones performance, significant results were found for the number of secondary branches. About analysis of genetic diversity, the measures of dissimilarity genetic varied from 0.62 to 13.11, this way, the UFRBPR14 and UFRBPR15 clones were more divergent. The Tocher method was efficient to verify formation of four groups. The characteristics that most contributed to the divergence among clones were branches number, height and number of bunches, and, stem diameter had lower contribution. The jatropha clones differed only in the secondary branches number and multivariate analysis showed divergence among the jatropha clones with formation of four groups. Also, branches number, plant height and number of bunches were characteristic that contributed to genetic divergence.
Highlights
The increased world demand for liquid fuels, problems due to global warming, energy security and political will for agricultural, social and energy development are the motive forces responsible for the renewed interest in the production of biofuels from oil plants (DABDOUB; BRONZEL, 2009)
Brazil stands out with potential for production of oil plants, by its great extent of agricultural lands, irrigation potential and edaphoclimatic conditions for cropping various species that has potential to be used as raw material for biofuels (DARCE, 2005), including the Jatropha curcas L. (DRUMMOND et al, 1984)
According to Openshaw (2000), the J. curcas oil can be used for biodiesel production, but its potential is not exploited because the lack of research
Summary
The increased world demand for liquid fuels, problems due to global warming, energy security and political will for agricultural, social and energy development are the motive forces responsible for the renewed interest in the production of biofuels from oil plants (DABDOUB; BRONZEL, 2009). Brazil stands out with potential for production of oil plants, by its great extent of agricultural lands, irrigation potential and edaphoclimatic conditions for cropping various species that has potential to be used as raw material for biofuels (DARCE, 2005), including the Jatropha curcas L. This species produces a viable alternative raw material, complementary for biodiesel production, since it is a low cost, non-food crop of good geographical adaptation (DIAS et al, 2007, SCHIAVO et al, 2010, OLIVEIRA et al, 2013). Drummond et al (2010) found yields ranging from 330 kg ha-1 in dry conditions and 1,200 kg ha-1 in irrigated areas, confirming the J. curcas yield dependence on water regimens
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