Genetic variation in yield and fatty acids of Jatropha curcas L.

Abstract

Thirty three Jatropha curcas plants of four year age growing under uniform conditions were evaluated with respect to seed yield, oil content and fatty acid profile. The seed yield varied from 485 to 2115 g per plant. Significant genetic variation was observed for oil content which ranged from 19.72 to 38.04 percent. The promising genotypes showing superiority for oil yield were G33, G15, G35, G19 and G29. Four fatty acids also witnessed significant differences among the genotypes. J. curcas oil contained 78.91 percent total unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid and linoleic acid) and 19.83% saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid). The significant genotypic variation offered huge scope of improvement.