Abstract
Fossil fuel sources are a limited resource and could eventually be depleted. Biofuels have emerged as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Jatropha has grown in significance as a potential bioenergy crop due to its high content of seed oil. However, Jatropha’s lack of high-yielding seed genotypes limits its potential use for biofuel production. The main cause of lower seed yield is the low female to male flower ratio (1:25–10), which affects the total amount of seeds produced per plant. Here, we review the genetic factors responsible for floral transitions, floral organ development, and regulated gene products in Jatropha. We also summarize potential gene targets to increase seed production and discuss challenges ahead.
Highlights
About 11 billion tons of oil is consumed worldwide each year for fuel
Transcriptome analysis of Jatropha’s floral buds showed reduced expression of the stamen development gene TASSELSEED 2 (TS2) that facilitated the growth of carpels (Chen et al, 2014)
Upregulation of genes encoding for RING-H2 finger protein ATL3J (E3 ubiquitin ligases), CLAVATA1, auxin-induced protein 22D, transcription factor R2R3-myb, and AGAMOUS-LIKE-20 (MADS-box genes) have been identified during the late stage of female flower development, which may facilitate the maturation of female flower (Alvarez and Smyth, 1999; Pelaz et al, 2000; Makkena et al, 2012; Xu et al, 2016)
Summary
About 11 billion tons of oil is consumed worldwide each year for fuel. With this rate of oil consumption, we may soon exhaust the oil reservoir (Shafiee and Topal, 2009)2. The other mode is by aborting male tissues, which results in female flowers developing (Li and Li, 2009; Wu et al, 2011). Jatropha is a monoecious plant in which female flowers are formed due to stamen abortion/suppression.
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