Physic Nut Seeds Research Articles

Studying the effectiveness of Jatropha carcus L. Extract as a repellent, antifeedant, and toxic substance against red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus) adult insects in Saudi Arabia

ObjectiveRed palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is a highly harmful pest that causes severe damage to date palm trees. The detrimental influence of RPW on date palm trees cannot be ignored and must be addressed. Chemical insecticides are available for controlling RPW; however, the insect population has become resistant to these chemicals, leading to damage and spread to new areas. The present investigation examined the impacts of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds essential oils (PNEO) on laboratory-reared RPWs adult insects reared in a controlled laboratory environment. MethodsThe insecticidal, repellent, and antifeedant potentials of different doses (10, 20, 30, 40, 50%) of PNEO were tested against RPW. The insecticidal activity of J. curcas seeds oil extracts was assessed using topical application and feeding methods. ResultsRPW showed a high mortality rate when J. curcas seeds oil was applied topically after 24 h (P < 0.05). The mortality (%) of insects was 8, 76, 92, 96, and 100 for 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, and 50 % concentrations, respectively. The LC50 and LC90 were 16.50 %, and 28.14 %, respectively. Results from the feeding method demonstrated a significant increase in mortality with a 100 % mortality rate at higher concentrations of PNEO compared to 10 and 20 % concentrations (P < 0.0001). The LC50 and LC90 were 24.42 % and 31.30 %, respectively. There was no significant decrease in food consumption and the antifeedant index when 10 % and 20 % of J. curcas seeds oil were used on the 3rd and 6th day after application. All J. curcas oil concentrations showed a repellent effect significantly higher than the controls (P < 0.05). ConclusionJ. curcas seeds oil has shown potential insecticidal and repellent effects against RPW, and it could provide an eco-friendly tool for RPW pest management.

A HD-Zip I transcription factor from physic nut, JcHDZ21, confers sensitive to salinity in transgenic Arabidopsis.

HD-Zip is a plant-specific transcription factor that plays an important regulatory role in plant growth and stress response. However, there have been few reports on the functions of members of the physic nut HD-Zip gene family. In this study, we cloned a HD-Zip I family gene from physic nut by RT-PCR, and named JcHDZ21. Expression pattern analysis showed that JcHDZ21 gene had the highest expression in physic nut seeds, and salt stress inhibited the expression of JcHDZ21 gene. Subcellular localization and transcriptional activity analysis showed that JcHDZ21 protein is localized in the nucleus and has transcriptional activation activity. Salt stress results indicated that JcHDZ21 transgenic plants were smaller and had more severe leaf yellowing compared to those of the wild type. Physiological indicators showed that transgenic plants had higher electrical conductivity and MDA content, and lower proline and betaine content compared with wild-type plants under salt stress. In addition, the expression of abiotic stress-related genes in JcHDZ21 transgenic plants was significantly lower than that in wild type under salt stress. Our results showed that ectopic expression of JcHDZ21 increased the sensitivity of transgenic Arabidopsis to salt stress. This study provides a theoretical basis for the future application of JcHDZ21 gene in the breeding of physic nut stress-tolerant varieties.

Genetic variability and genetic progress in seed traits in breeding the physic nut

Determining the chemical composition of seeds of the physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) is of great importance for the species due to the oil content of the seeds (the principal trait of interest). Identifying promising genotypes with selectable seed traits is one of the strategies adopted in breeding the physic nut in order to increase the yield and quality of the oil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition of seed traits in ten half-sibling progeny of the physic nut, and to identify which progeny have good genetic performance for transmission to the offspring. The experimental design was completely randomised, with ten treatments and four replications. The treatments were represented by seeds from half-sibling progeny in which the carbohydrate, protein and lipid content, and the composition of the fatty acids were evaluated. The genetic parameters and the gains from their selection were predicted for the principal seed traits using mixed-model analysis, including REML (restricted maximum likelihood) and BLUP (best linear unbiased prediction). The physic-nut seeds showed an average dry matter (DM) concentration of 60 mg g-1 carbohydrates, 42 mg g-1 protein and 142 mg g-1 total lipids. Unsaturated fatty acids represented more than 85% of the total fatty acid composition, with the oil classified as oleic-linoleic. Considering the predictions of the genetic parameters, the lipid traits can be selected for the purpose of breeding, resulting in genetic progress in the yield and quality of physic-nut oil.

Jatropha curcas seed tolerance to desiccation and storage at low temperatures

Jatropha seeds were classified according to tolerance to desiccation and storage, as a way to subsidize future propagation programs, as jatropha seed shows to be a promising oilseed for biodiesel production. The objective of this work was to study the physiological classification regarding the tolerance of physic nut seeds to desiccation and storage at low temperatures and to verify if their behavior was closer to that of seeds classified as orthodox, recalcitrant or intermediate. The seeds were harvested in the morning and sent to the Laboratory, being processed and submitted to drying, storage and emergency assessment. For seed quality analysis, the germination test and the emergence speed index were used, using a completely randomized design, with four treatments (no drying, 12% humidity, 5% humidity and 12% humidity a -20ºC for 90 days) and five repetitions. After physiological classification, it was found that seeds of physic nut are orthodox, thus can be stored at low temperature (-20ºC) and with low water content (&lt;5%), without compromising their viability.

Germination responses in physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds to pregerminative treatments

Las semillas de pinon (Jatropha curcas L.) pueden presentar problemas de germinacion debido a su testa gruesa. Por lo anterior, el objetivo de esta investigacion fue evaluar el efecto de 13 metodos pregerminativos sobre la germinacion de semillas y uniformidad en la emergencia de plantulas de pinon. Los metodos consistieron en la combinacion de agua, cenizas de Manilkara bidentata y estiercol de cuy (Cavia porcellus), con dos sustratos (aserrin y arena). Se empleo un diseno completamente al azar con parcelas divididas. Se realizaron tres repeticiones de 50 semillas para cada tratamiento. Se evaluo inicio de germinacion, porcentaje de germinacion y emergencia. Los resultados indicaron que el remojo en agua a 62 °C fue letal para el embrion; mientras que la siembra directa en arena fue la mas tardia para iniciar la germinacion. El remojo en estiercol y la frotacion con cenizas mas remojo en estiercol, independientemente del sustrato, permitieron iniciar la germinacion en dos dias y alcanzar mas de 90 % de emergencia; por lo que se concluye que estos tratamientos pregerminativos fueron los mejores

Germinação e crescimento inicial das plântulas de pinhão-manso em condições de salinidade

Soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that limit seed germination and plant growth, causing yield loss in crop species. The phytotoxic effects of salt stress on seed germination and early growth of physic nut ( Jatropha curcas L.) seedlings were investigated in the present study. Physic nut seeds were subjected to five levels of salinity [0 (control); 25; 50; 75 and 100 mmol L -1 of NaCl], using the solution-paper method, with five replications. The experimental unit consisted in a germitest paper roll with 25 physic nut seeds. Salt treatments were evaluated based on the following tests: first count of germination test (7 days), total germination (12 days) and early growth of physic nut seedlings (12 days). Results showed that the addition of 100 mmol L -1 of NaCl reduced the first count of germination test (45%), total germination (50%), shoot length (42%), root length (59%), shoot dry matter (34%) and root dry matter (44%) of physic nut seedlings compared to the NaCl-free control. The exposure to high salt concentrations severely restricted the seed germination and early growth of physic nut seedlings. These data suggest that physic nut crop is a moderately sensitive species to high salinity levels during the stage of seed germination and early seedling growth. Normal 0 21 false false false PT-BR X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Tabela normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;}

EFFECTS OF ALUMINUM ON SEED GERMINATION AND INITIAL GROWTH OF PHYSIC NUT SEEDLINGS

A luminum (Al 3+ ) toxicity is one of the major factors that limit plant growth and crop yield in acid soils. The phytotoxic effects of aluminum on seed germination and initial growth of physic nut ( Jatropha curcas L.) seedlings were investigated in the present study. Physic nut seeds were subjected to five levels of aluminum [0 (control), 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg L –1 ], using the solution-paper method, with eight replications. The experimental unit consisted in a germitest paper roll with 25 physic nut seeds. Treatments were evaluated based on the following tests: first count of germination test (7 days), total germination (12 days) and initial growth of physic nut seedlings (12 days). The addition of 80 mg L –1 of Al reduced the first count of germination test (7 9 %), total germination ( 90 %), s hoot length ( 20 %), shoot dry matter ( 30 %), root length ( 76 %) and root dry matter ( 83 %) of physic nut seedlings compared to the Al-free control. The addition of high concentrations of Al severely restricted the seed germination and initial growth of physic nut seedlings . Phytotoxic effects of Al is more accentuated on the root growth than on shoot growth of physic nut seedlings . The data presented here suggest that the physic nut is a susceptible species to high concentrations of Al during the phase of seed germination and early growth. Normal 0 21 false false false PT-BR X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Tabela normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Emergência e estabelecimento de plântulas de pinhão manso em função de posições e profundidades de semeadura

Considering the lack of search results related to physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) cultivation was carried out this work to study the position and sowing depth effects on the emergence and early growth of seedlings originated from seeds from different sources, a batch from Campina Grande, PB, and another coming from Uberlandia, MG. We conducted an experiment using a completely randomized design with four replications of 25 seeds arranged in a factorial 3 x 3 (positions and depths). The treatments consisted of different positions of the seeds in the soil: caruncule side up, forming an angle of 0 degrees in relation to an imaginary axis perpendicular to the ground; caruncule to the side, forming an angle of 90 degrees to the imaginary axis and caruncule face down, forming an angle of 180 degrees to the imaginary axis at depths of 2, 4 and 6 cm. In order to evaluate the effects of treatments were determinate percentage of emergence, emergence rate index, average time of emergence, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area and height/stem diameter ratio. The best way of sowing physic nut seeds is with the caruncule down at 4 mm depth.

Standard germination test in physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds

Defining adequate methods to assess seed germination is important to control the quality of commercial lots, especially for species that are not yet included in the Rules for Seed Testing. This study aimed to establish an adequate procedure for germination test in physic nut seeds (J. curcas L.). Three seed lots, in eight replications of 25 seeds each, were sown on paper towel rolls moistened with a water volume equivalent to 2.7 the weight of the dry paper and in sterilized sand moistened up to 60% of its water-holding capacity. The seeds of each treatment were maintained on germination chambers at temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 20-30 ºC. Daily counts were made to define the ideal date to perform the first and the last count test. Criteria for classifying seedlings as normal and abnormal were also established. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a split plot arrangement, and the means were compared by Tukey's test (P&lt;0.05). For maximum germination potential of physic nut seeds, the germination test should be conducted at 25 ºC and 30 ºC, using sand or paper towel as a substrate, with the counts at 7 and 12 days after sowing.

Germination and early growth of physic nut submitted to levels of salinity

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of salinity on early physic nut plant development. In the first trial, physic nut seeds were exposed to seven levels of salinity (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12dS m-1) with eight repetitions, using a substrate of paper soaked with solutions of CaCl2 and KCl. The treatments were evaluated based on the initial germination, total percentage of germination, and time necessary to germination of 50% of the seeds. Increased salinity reduced the first germination count and delayed the time to 50% germination. From 10dS m-1, there was a reduction in germination percentage. The second trial evaluated the effect of salinity on the growth of physic nut seeds. This trial, carried out inside a greenhouse, with a completely randomized design, was composed of five salinity treatments (0.02, 2, 4, 6 and 8dS m-1) with 5 replications. It was observed that salinity levels above 2dS m-1 affected plant development. The current study suggests that salinity management is an important factor to be considered to achieve the potential productivity of physic nut.

Etiology and pathogenicity of two different isolates of Colletotrichum spp. obtained from physic nut seeds

The species known as physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) has become important as one of main sources of feedstock for biodiesel production. The aims of this study were characterizing two different isolates of Colletotrichum spp. obtained from seeds of this species, through morphological, cultural, and molecular analyses; as well as assessing pathogenicity of both isolates on leaves and fruit of this plant species. For morphological analysis, length and width of 30 spores of each isolate, produced on medium Malt Extract-Agar (MEA), at 25 ± 1 ºC, and under constant light, were measured. Cultural analysis was performed by the fungus growth on PDA medium, through daily measurements of the mycelial growth, and the color of colonies after seven days incubation. DNA of the isolates was extracted and specific oligonucleotides primers (region ITS4) were identified by PCR and used to identify C. capsici (CcInt) and C. gloeosporioides (CgInt). Pathogenicity of isolates was assessed on plants aged 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days after sowing and fruits at six maturation stages. Based on these analyses, isolates were identified as C. gloeosporioides and C. capsici. Young plants and the older fruits were more susceptible to infection by the two fungus species.

Physiological quality of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds during storage

The physic nut has been considered as one of the oilseed plants species with the highest potential for biofuel production. Oleaginous seeds demand special care during storage to maintain their quality. This study aimed to establish the most adequate conditions for their storage. Freshly-harvested seeds were dried until 7.2 moisture content and stored along a year, under the following conditions: environmental laboratory and cold chamber ( ±5 ºC and 60% RH), into paper bag, polypropylene bag, and cardboard barrel. Physiological quality was then assessed by the tests: germination; first count; germination speed index; seedling length; accelerated aging; cold test; field emergence; and emergence speed index, after zero, three, six, nine, and 12 months. There was linear reduction of germination and vigor of the seeds after storage under environmental laboratory condition, into paper or polypropylene bags, and cardboard barrel. Physiological quality was higher after storage in cold chamber, into paper or polypropylene bags; and into cardboard barrel, at environmental laboratory condition.

Avaliação de danos causados por percevejos em sementes de Jatropha curcas

This study aimed to identify damages caused by stink bugs in seeds of physic nut through the tetrazolium test. Seeds were soaked in water for 16 hours. After tegument removal, the albumens were submerged in tetrazolium solution at concentration of 0.5% for 4 hours at 40 ± 2 °C in BOD without light, and evaluated according to the levels of viability and damages by stink bugs. The tetrazolium test was efficient to evaluate the viability of physic nut seeds allowing the interpretation of vigor and damage caused by insects.

Germinação de sementes de pinhão manso em diferentes temperaturas, luz e substratos

The physic nut crop (Jatropha curcas L.) has been gaining some importance in the last years due to its use as a raw material for biodiesel production. The Physic nut can be propagated through stakes and/ or seeds. In this context, it was developed this study in order to evaluate the effects of the substrate, temperature and light on the germination and germination speed index (GSI) of physic nut seeds. The experimental design used was a factorial 4x2x2 with temperature (25, 30, 35 and 40 °C) x substrate (sand and paper) x light (presence and absence) with three replicates per treatment. The best germination percentages were obtained with the temperatures of 25, 30 and 35 °C with light and 30 ºC in light absence for the sand substrate and at a temperature of 30°C, whether in presence or absence of light for the paper substrate. The sowing in sand without light at 30 °C was that best promoted the seedling development with higher GSI. The combination of substrate between sand, temperature of 30 °C and absence of light showed the best condition for evaluating germination and GSI of physic nut seeds.

Componentes de produção de pinhão manso irrigado com água de diferentes condutividades elétrica e doses de fósforo

O pinhão manso tem atraído bastante interesse nos últimos anos por apresentar elevado potencial de fornecer óleo para produção de biocombustível e isso tem provocado a expansão rápida das áreas de cultivo em todo mundo. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência da irrigação com água de diferentes condutividades elétricas (CEa) e doses de fósforo sobre os componentes de produção de pinhão manso durante o terceiro ano de produção. Usou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados em um fatorial (5x2) com quatro repetições, sendo cinco níveis de salinidade (CEa - 0,6 testemunha; 1,2; 1,8; 2,4 e 3,0dS m-1) da água de irrigação e duas doses de P2O5 (135 e 200g planta 1 ano-1), em que a água de 0,6dS m-1 refere-se à água de abastecimento e à dose de 135g planta-1, a recomendação para o pinhão manso. As plantas foram cultivadas em vasos com capacidade de 200L e irrigados a cada três dias. O número de dias para inflorescência, número de cachos planta-1, produtividade de sementes e o teor de óleo das sementes de pinhão manso foram afetados negativamente pelo o aumento da salinidade da água de irrigação. A cultura do pinhão manso irrigado com água com condutividade elétrica de 1,3dS m-1 reduz 10% da produtividade das sementes e consequentemente do teor de óleo em suas sementes. Somente o número de dias para inflorescência foi afetado pelas doses de fósforo. Verificou-se correlação positiva e significativa entre o peso de 100 sementes e o teor de óleo das sementes que, respectivamente, foram 90,26g e 36,39% no tratamento irrigado com a água de menor condutividade elétrica.

Global Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles in Developing Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas L.) Seeds

BackgroundPhysic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) is an oilseed plant species with high potential utility as a biofuel. Furthermore, following recent sequencing of its genome and the availability of expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries, it is a valuable model plant for studying carbon assimilation in endosperms of oilseed plants. There have been several transcriptomic analyses of developing physic nut seeds using ESTs, but they have provided limited information on the accumulation of stored resources in the seeds.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe applied next-generation Illumina sequencing technology to analyze global gene expression profiles of developing physic nut seeds 14, 19, 25, 29, 35, 41, and 45 days after pollination (DAP). The acquired profiles reveal the key genes, and their expression timeframes, involved in major metabolic processes including: carbon flow, starch metabolism, and synthesis of storage lipids and proteins in the developing seeds. The main period of storage reserves synthesis in the seeds appears to be 29–41 DAP, and the fatty acid composition of the developing seeds is consistent with relative expression levels of different isoforms of acyl-ACP thioesterase and fatty acid desaturase genes. Several transcription factor genes whose expression coincides with storage reserve deposition correspond to those known to regulate the process in Arabidopsis.Conclusions/SignificanceThe results will facilitate searches for genes that influence de novo lipid synthesis, accumulation and their regulatory networks in developing physic nut seeds, and other oil seeds. Thus, they will be helpful in attempts to modify these plants for efficient biofuel production.

Relationship between fruit maturation stage and physiological quality of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds

The physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) has great potential for use in biodiesel production due to the high oil content of its seeds. Production of high quality seeds depends upon the appropriate time of harvest. A field experiment was carried out to monitor the maturation process of physic nut seeds and to establish the ideal harvest time of the seeds based on external fruit color. Fruits were collected at different maturation stages based on the external color: green, yellow-green, yellow, yellow-brown and brown. Seeds were extracted manually and, after natural drying, were submitted to the following tests and determinations: moisture content and dry matter, germination, first count seedling emergence, seedling growth, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, the weight of thousand seeds and oil content. A randomized design was used with four replications. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and, for each test, treatment means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. Physic nut seeds with high physiological quality are obtained from yellow and yellow-brown fruits. Seeds from green fruits have lower physiological quality, dry matter and oil content than the other maturation stages. The seeds obtained from brown fruits have a high germination potential, but have low vigor in relation to yellow and yellow-brown stages.

Acúmulo de matéria seca e óleo nas sementes de pinhão-manso e qualidade do óleo extraído

Objetivou-se, com o presente trabalho, avaliar o efeito do estádio de maturação dos frutos sobre o rendimento em massa de matéria seca e óleo das sementes de pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) , e sobre a qualidade do óleo extraído. Frutos de pinhão-manso foram classificados em quatro diferentes estádios de maturação, de acordo com sua coloração: verde, amarela, marrom-amarela e marrom. Amostras dos frutos de cada estádio foram retiradas para a determinação do teor de água, dimensões principais, volume e contagem de sementes por fruto. As sementes foram extraídas para determinação do teor de água, dimensões principais, volume, massa seca de mil sementes, percentual em massa de óleo e percentual de ácidos graxos livres do óleo extraído. A colheita de frutos de pinhão-manso com coloração marrom-amarelo e marrom, proporcionou maior rendimento em massa seca das sementes e em conteúdo de óleo. A colheita dos frutos com coloração marrom-amarelo além de possibilitar bons rendimentos em óleo e em matéria seca, permite a obtenção de óleo com índice de acidez menor, sendo o estádio de maturação mais indicado para a realização da colheita dos frutos e sementes de pinhão-manso para fins industriais.

Armazenamento de sementes de pinhão manso em diferentes embalagens e ambientes

Sementes de pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas L.) possuem características ortodoxas e requerem conhecimento sobre os fatores que afetam a manutenção de sua qualidade fisiológica. Assim, objetivou-se neste estudo identificar as condições adequadas de armazenamento para a manutenção da qualidade fisiológica de sementes de pinhão manso. Na avaliação dos métodos de armazenamento, utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3x3+1, sendo os fatores constituídos por três embalagens (saco de papel Kraft, saco de polietileno e embalagem de vidro), três ambientes de armazenamento (laboratório com condições não controladas, câmara refrigerada a 14 - 16 ºC e refrigerador a 4-6 ºC) e avaliação inicial do material em estudo. Foram analisados os valores de teor de água, primeira contagem de germinação em ambiente controlado. Também se avaliou o índice de velocidade de emergência, porcentagem de germinação das sementes e Índice de Qualidade de Dickson para as mudas após 45 dias da semeadura em ambiente propagativo não controlado. As sementes armazenadas em embalagem de vidro e ambiente de geladeira mantiveram a sua qualidade fisiológica, podendo ser armazenadas pelo período de 180 dias.

Physiological quality of Jatropha curcas L. seeds harvested at different development stages

Physic nut (Jatropha curcas) has great potential to be used as a source of biodiesel due its high content of oil. However, information on the production and seed technology of this species is rare, especially regarding the maturation process. The purpose of the work reported here was to evaluate the main changes during seed maturation, to characterize the physiological maturity and to define the ideal harvest time of Jatropha curcas seeds. During November and December, 2009, the female flowers from trees grown since 2006 were tagged at anthesis. The capsules (fruits) were harvested at 5-day intervals starting 35 days after anthesis (DAA) till 80 DAA and were classified as green, yellow or brown. Seed size, moisture content and dry matter, germination, first count (7d), speed of germination index and seedling growth were determined. The size of physic nut seeds increased until 50 DAA. The maximum seed quality, expressed in germination and vigour, and the maximum dry matter content that characterized physiological maturity, was attained 65 DAA when the fruits turned brown or brown with some yellow spots, and the seed moisture content was high.