African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6853

Full Length Research Paper

Phenotypic characterization of physic nut populations

Joao Paulo de Morais Oliveira
  • Joao Paulo de Morais Oliveira
  • Graduation Program on Plants Production, Ipameri Campus, State University of Goiás (UEG), Zip Code: 75780-000, Goiás, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Jessica Ferreira Silva
  • Jessica Ferreira Silva
  • Agronomy School, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Zip Code: 74690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Bruna Santos de Oliveira
  • Bruna Santos de Oliveira
  • Graduation Program on Plants Production, Ipameri Campus, State University of Goiás (UEG), Zip Code: 75780-000, Goiás, Brazil.
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Priscilla Gomes de Freitas Santos
  • Priscilla Gomes de Freitas Santos
  • Graduation Program on Plants Production, Ipameri Campus, State University of Goiás (UEG), Zip Code: 75780-000, Goiás, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Patricia Souza da Silveira
  • Patricia Souza da Silveira
  • Graduation Program on Plants Production, Ipameri Campus, State University of Goiás (UEG), Zip Code: 75780-000, Goiás, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Fabio Santos Matos
  • Fabio Santos Matos
  • Graduation Program on Plants Production, Ipameri Campus, State University of Goiás (UEG), Zip Code: 75780-000, Goiás, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 01 September 2016
  •  Accepted: 20 October 2016
  •  Published: 10 November 2016

Abstract

This study aimed to identify phenotypic plasticity in populations of Jatropha curcas. The experiment was conducted with a completely randomized design with eleven treatments and four replications. Morphophysiological variables were analyzed in the agricultural year, 2014-2015. Positive correlations were only observed between crown diameter and seed production, and canopy diameter and stomatal density in adaxial epidermis, indicating that canopy diameter can be used as a descriptor in plant breeding programs. Cluster analysis confirmed the existence of diversity among populations of J. curcas, with the formation of two groups, demonstrating the narrow genetic basis of Jatropha found in different regions of Brazil. The analysis of phenotypic plasticity demonstrated that morphological variables had a higher coefficient of plasticity in relation to physiological and productive variables. The morphological and physiological variables can be used in J. curcas breeding programs to study diversity and phenotypic plasticity.

 

Key words: Biofuel, genetic diversity, Jatropha curcas, oleaginous.

Abbreviation

CAR, Carotenoids; Cl a, chlorophyll a; Cl b, chlorophyll b; CS, the length of the seed; DCL, stem diameter; DCP, canopy diameter; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; DS, diameter seed; EAB, stomatal density in abaxial; EAD, stomatal density in adaxial epidermis; FA, asexual; FBH, the first branch height; FF, feminine flower; FH, hermaphrodites flower; FM, masculine flower; LA, leaf area; LS, width of the seed; NI, number of inflorescences per plant; NR, number of branches; PCD, crown diameter;   PH,   plant   height;   PO,   oil   yield;    PROD, productivity; PS, weight of 100 seeds; SLA, specific leaf area; TOS, oil content in the seeds.