Characterization of Jatropha curcas accessions based in plant growth traits and oil quality

- Variation in growth characteristics, seed traits, quality and oil content of six accessions of Jatropha curcas are reported.
- The accessions showing the best plant growth characteristics are also the best in oil yield and quality.
- The biodiesel obtained from the best genotypes had worthy properties due to the presence of high Cetane Nunber and low Iodine Value.

Variability in growth and reproductive characteristics, seed traits, quality and oil content of six accessions of Jatropha curcas growing in Murcia (Spain) under greenhouse conditions were analysed. Differences were found among accessions in branch length, ratio female to male flowers (F/M), productions, seed weight, endosperm weight, percentage of endosperm and percentage of aborted seeds oil contents, fatty acids composition and quality indexes of the biodiesel. Two genotypes (8-8 and 6-3) have shown a good vigor plant, the best F/M ratio, and appropriate average productions. In addition, these accessions showed the highest average single seed weights, and the best average endosperm weights. The highest total seed oil percentages were observed in the accessions 4-5 (42.42 ± 0.26), 6-3 (41.51 ± 0.20), and 8-8 (40.41 ± 0.73), whereas percentages lower than 30% were recorded in the others. The percentage of endosperm oil ranged from 42.72 ± 0.98% to 65.71 ± 0.36%. In relation to the fatty acids composition, the highest monounsaturated fatty acids percentages with the highest concentration of oleic acid and the lowest concentration of linolenic acid were observed in three genotypes (4-5, 8-8 and 6-3). The biodiesel obtained from these accessions presented high cetane number and low iodine value, which indicates the good ignition quality and stability of the oil.The knowledge of plant growth parameters and oil quality of the studied genotypes could be useful to choose the appropriate ones to be grown under subtropical climatic conditions or to be used as parents in a breeding program.