Physic Nut Jatropha Curcas Research Articles

Growth, metabolism and digestibility of Nile tilapia fed diets with solvent and extrusion-treated Jatropha curcas cake.

Physic nut Jatropha curcas cake/meal obtained after oil extraction has a high protein content, however, the presence of antinutrients (trypsin inhibitor, lectin and phytate) and toxic compounds (phorbol esters) limit their use as an alternative feedstuff. Thus, the detoxification process in cake/meal is necessary to allow their inclusion in fish diets. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of solvent and extrusion-treated jatropha cake (SETJC) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diets on growth, body composition, nutrient utilization, metabolic and hematological responses, and digestibility of experimental diets. Five experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (28.50% digestible protein) and isoenergetic (13.39MJ/kg digestible energy) with graded levels of SETJC (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12%). The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and four replicates. The detoxification treatments reduced the phorbol esters (PE) of jatropha cake by 96% (0.58mg/g of PE before and 0.023mg/g of PE after treatments). Increased levels of SETJC depressed growth, feed efficiency, and protein digestibility. A similar trend was observed for hematological and biochemistry parameters. Aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, as well as phosphorus and magnesium concentrations in the fillets, increased at the highest levels of SETJC. Thus, the data of the present study suggests that the residual content, different structural forms of phorbol ester and its biological activity, as well as some antinutritional factors, can influence negatively the growth, metabolism and digestibility of experimental diets for Nile tilapia.

Field Trial of Three Plant Extracts against Tetranychus urticae Population as a Comparative with Acaricidal (Abamectin) on Two Vegetable Crops

Effects of thorn apple or jimsonweed Datura stramonium (Solanaceae) leaves, Egyptian henbane Hyoscoyamus muticus (Solanaceae) flowers and physic nut Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) seeds. Extracts were studied for their efficacy against Two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae comparative with acaricidal Vertemic. The plants were extracted by Acetone and spraying on eggplant crop Solanum molongena (Solanacae) and bean crop Phasolus vulgaris (Fabaceae) at concentration 4% in infected fields. The reduction percentages of the population were determined after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days from treatments and data were analysed by Anova table and mortality percentages were calculated by Abbot’s formula. From these study it was concluded that, the plant extracts are more effective as acaricides because they recorded highly reduction percentages for T. urticae. D. stramonium reach 92.30 and 94.12 mortality on eggplant and bean respectively, J. curcas recorded 90.58 and 90.56% reduction percentages on S. molongena and P. vulgaris respectively while the extract of H. muticus recorded 95.40 and 87.46% mortality rates on the same crops respectably. On the other hand Vertemic was more effective on T. urticae.

Evaluate the plant extracts of Syzygium aromaticum, Citrulus colocynthis and Jatropha curcas against Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Cucumis satives

A comparative efficiency of three plant extracts of clove Syzygium aromaticum Mytaceae flowers, colocynthor or bitter melon Citrulus colocynthis Cucurbitaceae fruits and physic nut Jatropha curcas Euphorbiaceae seeds extracted by the organic solvent acetone; were assessed against adult females of Tetranychus urticae under laboratory condition at concentrations 0.5, 1, 2 and 4% at 27±2 °C and 65±5% relative humidity (Rh) The results were recorded after 24, 48 and 72h from spraying. Also, field trial efforts was conducted to evaluation the best extract of J. curcas at 4% concentration to submission the population of T. urticae compared with the acaricidal vertemic and the results were recorded after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days intervals after treatment. The results explained that, 0.5% concentration was non effective when applied with the three plant extracts. Also, C. colocynthis was the lowest potently one it recorded 33.33% reduction percentages after 72h from applied at concentration 4 %. While the J. curcas extract was the best one it gave reduction percentages 85.41, 89.58 and 94.79% after 72h. from applied at concentration 1, 2 and 4%, respectively. The same results were observed when J. curcas applied on cucumber (Cucumis satives) plants at field condition at concentration 4%, it gave 79.37, 89.50 and 88.91% reduction percentages after 1, 3 and 7 days from spraying, respectively. S. aromaticum extract when evaluated under laboratory condition against T. urticae females gave 64.89, 73.40 and 85.10% reduction percentages, after 3 days from applied at concentration 1, 2 and 4%, respectively. The results suggested that, extracts of J. curcas seeds and S. aromaticum flowers have a great potential for future development as natural acaricides for controlling T. urticae mite.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) populations in plantations of Jatropha curcas L. in Yucatan, Mexico

Mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an important pest of physic nut Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae), infestations can be severe and dispersion is unknow. The objective was to determine the temporal and spatial dynamics in four experimental areas in 2014 and 2015 in Yucatan, Mexico. Incidence (mealybug-infested or uninfested plants) was assessed from May to July at nearly-regular day intervals. Temporal analysis was carried out using deterministic, growth epidemiological models, whereas spatial analysis was conducted through mapping, randomness tests and spatial autocorrelation. The exponential and logistic models described the incidence of mealybugs in 2014 with a coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.9 and 0.9); mean square error (MSE = 0.66 and 0.70); and P value < 0.05 for both models, respectively. The three spatial analysis methods showed the presence of a random dispersion pattern of mealybug-infested physic nut plants at the beginning of the epidemic followed by a rapid anisotropic aggregation (along rows) by mid-June to end of July in the four experimental areas. Infestations intensify within rows, forming aggregates of up to 41 contiguous plants. The results suggest that practices for control of this pest in the region should be implemented from early to mid-May, before aggregates of infested plants start to form and serve as sources for mealybugs dispersal across rows and over larger distances.

Potential of seed dusts of Jatropha curcas L., Thevetia peruviana (Pers.), and Piper guineense Schumach. against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky, 1855) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in storage of corn grain

Abstract A laboratory evaluation was carried out to determine the efficacy and phytochemical composition of powdered seeds of Physic nut Jatropha curcas, Yellow oleander Thevetia peruviana and West African black pepper Piper guineense at different dosages (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 g) for the management of Sitophilus zeamais. Treatments were mixed with 50 g of maize and infested with 10 adult S. zeamais in 200 ml air-tight glass vials and kept under ambient conditions (25-30°C and 70-90 RH) for a period of 28 days in August 2015. The trial was laid out in a completely randomized design in four replicates. Results from data analyses showed that treated maize grains in storage recorded significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher mean mortality levels of adult S. zeamais than the untreated controls. However, there were no significant differences in mean mortality of the weevil at 7, 14, 21 and 28 DAT, except on those stored only for 1 DAT. Batches treated with higher doses (10.0, 7.5, 5.0 g) suffered a higher total mortality of adult S. zeamais; this was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher compared with treatments using smaller dosages (2.5 and 0.0 g). Phytochemical analysis of treatments revealed high levels of alkaloids, tannins and phenols in all the plant extracts. The flavonoid contents were also high in Piper guineense and Permethrin, but lower in Jatropha curcas and Thevetia peruviana. These compounds are known to possess insecticidal properties that may have been responsible for the mortality of Sitophilus zeamais.

High genetic variability and polychromatism in Pachycoris torridus (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae).

The stink bug Pachycoris torridus is listed among the most polyphagous insects in the world and it is a major pest of diverse crops, in particular the physic nut Jatropha curcas, which is used as a raw material for biodiesel production. A peculiar characteristic of this species is its high phenotypic variability, a characteristic that makes identification difficult: P. torridus has been described as a new species eight times. Thus, to aid in identification, genetic characterization of this insect was performed. We verified that, due to the high genetic variability of P. torridus, several genetic patterns exist that result in the same phenotype.

Biomass and carbon stock in Jatropha curcas L

This study aims to quantify the biomass and carbon stock in a crop of physic nut Jatropha curcas in Viçosa-MG at age three years. For biomass quantification, the direct or destructive method was applied to sample plants selected according to height, crown diameter and number of branches. For the determination of dry biomass in the field, the proportionality method was used. The determination of total carbon content was done in the Laboratory of Forest Soils of the Federal University of Viçosa, and the estimation of CO2 equivalent was based on the 3.67 factor. The carbon stock found in the third year of cultivation was 4.182 tC.ha-1 (15.349 tCO2-e.ha-1) and the mean annual increment (MAI) was 1.394 tC.ha-1.year-1. Results revealed that the potential carbon increment in the physic nut crop is similar to values found in other crops and natural forests yet lower than in eucalyptus crops.

Suitability of the predatory mites Iphiseiodes zuluagai and Euseius concordis in controlling Polyphagotarsonemus latus and Tetranychus bastosi on Jatropha curcas plants in Brazil.

One of the most promising plant species for biofuel production in Brazil is the physic nut Jatropha curcas. Major phytosanitary problems include the attack of two pest mite species, the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus and the spider mite Tetranychus bastosi. Owing to pesticide-related problems, there is an increasing demand for sustainable environmental-friendly control methods such as biological control. In this study we evaluated the suitability of the predatory mite species Iphiseiodes zuluagai and Euseius concordis in controlling P. latus and T. bastosi on J. curcas. The number of T. bastosi killed by I. zuluagai was lower than the number of P. latus consumed. Euseius concordis preyed upon both T. bastosi and P. latus but the number of prey killed was always lower in comparison with I. zuluagai. However, P. latus and T. bastosi are suitable for the development of I. zuluagai and E. concordis as oviposition of both predators did not differ in relation to prey species. The preference of I. zuluagai for leaves of plants infested by either P. latus or T. bastosi, combined with the higher values for predation obtained by this predatory mite when fed on P. latus, compared to those values obtained by E. concordis, suggests that I. zuluagai can be more efficient than E. concordis in reducing populations of P. latus and T. bastosi under field conditions. Furthermore, we report here on the first record of predatory mites associated with P. latus and T. bastosi on native J. curcas plants in Brazil. In conclusion, we emphasize the crucial importance of predatory mites as agents of natural biological control of mite pests on J. curcas in small farms.

Lifecycle and Rearing of the Shield-backed Bug Pachycoris klugii in Nicaragua (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)

The biology and life cycle of Pachycoris klugii Burmeister 1835 [Heteroptera: Scutelleridae], a key pest of physic nut Jatropha curcas Linnaeus 1753 [Euphorbiaceae] in Nicaragua, were studied in the field and the laboratory. The species is multivoltine and each female oviposits repeatedly during the rainy season. In the dry season adults go into hiding. Laboratory experiments do not confirm a diapause but indicate a preference for protected, dark habitats. During this phase the adults show no tolerance to food deprivation. Total development time from egg to adult under natural conditions is 40 days. Larval development stages can be distinguished by the width of the head capsule and pronotum. Rearing on a natural diet is possible, and the survival rates obtained were favourable.