Genetic variability and estimation of the outcrossing rate of the physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) using molecular markers

Abstract

The world-wide demand for renewable energy has expanded rapidly, and biofuel offer the perspective to dominate the world-wide scenery as an alternative to fossil fuels. Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) is an oil plant that possesses agricultural characteristics such as yield and oil content in the seeds, which makes it an excellent candidate for biofuel production. The domestication of Jatropha started only in the last 30 years, and little is known about its genetic diversity. The objective of this study is to characterize accessions of physic nut using microsatellites, to be developed for the species from enriched genomic library and/or ESTs (Expressed sequence tags), as well as to evaluate the transferability of primers from other Euphorbiaceae (cassava and/or rubber). The study also intend to estimate the outcrossing rate, to establish the mating system of the species. Two hundred and thirty five accessions, from states of Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Para, São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Bahia, Pernambuco, as well as some varieties selected for oil content from China, Cambodja, and other varieties from Paraguay, Tanzania, Mozambique and Dominican Republic, from the the physic nut germplasm collection of the ‘Universidade Federal de São Carlos’ (Araras), will be analyzed concerning the diversity and genetic structure of the accessions. Mating system and gene flow model will be study using nine accessions from diverse regions of Brazil and a southeastern Asian variety. The information generated will assist in the domestication, conservation and in the genetic improvement of the species. (AU)