Jatropha curcas is a native Mexican plant, distributed in the forests of coastal regions; it has shown potential for the production of biofuel, and its raw protein can be used as animal feed. Nevertheless, its current varieties have low yield and production variability, as it is in domestication period. The knowledge of the pollen grains is fundamental for studies of Jatropha reproductive biology and breeding for genetic improvement to generate new hybrids and improve fruit and seed yield. This study compared pollen morphology of four Jatropha species, which include two varieties of J. curcas (one toxic from India and one non-toxic from Mexico), and two varieties of wild J. cinerea (Sinaloa and Baja California Sur); additionally, pollen was collected from wild J. platyphylla (Sinaloa) and J. vernicosa (Baja California Sur) to characterize them palynologically. We used a scanning electron microscope to describe the size and shape of pollen grains. Pollen grains were observed spheroidal. The diameter of the varieties of toxic and non-toxic J. curcas and that of J. platyphylla were 58 ± 2.3, 54 ± 1.7, and 51 ± 2.4 µm, respectively; the number of clavae was 84 ± 10, 108 ± 15, and 180 ± 15.5, respectively. Pollen grains of J. cinerea (Sinaloa) had a diameter of 50 ± 1.7 µm and 220 ± 14 clavae by area; J. cinerea (Baja California Sur) had a diameter of 45 ± 1.9 µm and 195 ± 14.7 clavae. Pollen grains of J. vernicosa had a diameter of 46 ± 2.1 µm and 231 ± 25.6 clavae. The ornamentation of the exine showed clava with capita gemma shaped for varieties of J. curcas species and clavum shaped for J. platyphylla, J. cinerea and J. vernicosa species. The studied varieties have a cross-linked endexine and ectexine intectate. Luminal bacules were observed in the reticular space of J. curcas varieties while none were present in the varieties of J. cinerea, J. platyphylla, and J. vernicosa. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (2): 799-806. Epub 2017 June 01.
Jatropha platyphylla is considered as a potential source of edible protein, oil, and phenolic compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. The use of stem cutting in vegetative propagation and grafting is as indispensable tools for mass multiplication of superior genotypes and helps in improve planting yield and quality. The study was aimed to investigate the effect of different diameters (10 -15, 16 -25 and 26 -35 mm) and different hormone concentrations of indo-butyric acid (0, 1.5, 3, 6 and 10 g/L), in the rooting of Jatropha platyphylla and to obtain axillary buds to performed grafts. Rooting efficiency was 80% in greenhouse conditions. Hormone concentration and diameter significantly affected the rooting and shooting ability of Jatropha platyphylla stem cuttings. Stem cuttings of 26 -35 mm have the greatest number, length and dry root weight. 76% survival of the grafted plants was obtained. This demonstrates the necessity to improve the conventional propagation methods with appropriate scientific inputs for more economical and time efficient techniques for standard propagation protocols.
Morphological characterization and phenological modeling were carried out on genotypes of Jatropha platyphylla collected from the states of Sinaloa and Durango, Mexico. The morphological characterization evidenced the existence of monoecious plants, finding individuals with male and female flowers in the same inflorescence. Fruit with four seeds was also found. The phenological study was divided into two phases and calculated in thermal requirement (˚D): Vegetative [seedtime (0), germination (24), emergence (98), cotyledons (87), second (302) and fourth (524) true leaves, end of vegetative growth (302)] and reproductive [flowering (303), fructification (342), maturation ( 126), defoliation and senescence ( 450)]. The thermal constant (2558) was similar in all eight genotypes. The phenological stages and the accumulated degree days were adjusted with a third-degree polynomial (Stage = −0.0041x 3 + 0.7446x 2 − 8.6808x + 6.2448) (R 2 = 0.99%) stage. The development of phenological models facilitates the prediction of the flowering date for the selection of varieties with high oil and protein content.
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