Towards domestication of Jatropha curcas

Abstract

Jatropha curcas L. attracts a lot of interest as a biofuel crop, triggering large investments and rapid expansion of cultivation areas, and yet, it should still be considered as a (semi-)wild, undomesticated plant. To use the full potential of Jatropha and to support further expansion and systematic selection, breeding and domestication are a prerequisite. This review reveals and identifies gaps in knowledge that still impede domestication of Jatropha. Prebreeding knowledge is limited. In particular, the regeneration ecology and the degree of genetic diversity among and within natural populations in and outside the center of origin are poorly studied. There is only a limited understanding of the Jatropha breeding system and the effect of inbreeding and outbreeding. This review presents all currently available and relevant information on the species distribution, site requirements, regeneration ecology, genetic diversity, advances in selection, development of varieties and hybridization. It also describes possible routes to a better Jatropha germplasm, gives recommendations for tackling current problems and provides guidance for future research. We also discuss the participatory domestication strategy of Jatropha integration in agroforestry.

Acknowledgements

This research is funded by the Flemish Interuniversity Council – University Development Co-operation (VLIR-UOS) (Wouter MJ Achten), K.U.Leuven FLOF (Wouter H Maes) and the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) (Raf Aerts) and is a contribution of the R&D Platform on Climate and Development Cooperation (KLIMOS). Acknowledgements also go to The Tree Domestication Team and AlliancePlus (Ard G Lengkeek). The Flemish Government is thanked for providing a research grant on Community Agroforestry Tree Seeds (CATS Bank) and the Government of Ireland through the Irish Aid on Agroforestry Food Security to the World Agrofrerstry Centre in Malawi (Festus K Akinnifesi). This is further outcome from a preproject and project supported by the Danish Research Council for Technology and Innovation and the Consultative Research Committee for Development Research Danida, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, respectively (Lene R Nielsen, Erik D Kjær, Jon K Hansen & Lars Graudal). This paper has benefited from discussions and exchange of ideas with a number of persons, including Albert Nikiema (ICRISAT, Niger), Antoine Kalinganire (ICRAF, Mali), Cristel Munster (ICRAF, Kenya), Dieter Bryniok (Fraunhofer, Germany), Djingdia Lompo (CNSF, Mali), Gunter Backes (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), Haby Sanou (IER, Burkina Faso), Harinder Makkar (University of Hohenheim, Germany), Hugo Verkuijl (Mali Biocarburant SA), Ibrahim Togola (Mali Folkecenter), Jules Bayala (INERA, Burkina Faso), KT Parthiban (TNAU, India), Miguel A Angulo (CIAD, Mexico), Miyuki Iiyama (ICRAF, Kenya), Ola Smith (ICRISAT, Niger), Ousmane Ouattara (Mali Folkecenter) and Simon Gmuender (EMPA, Switzerland). The authors would like to acknowledge these experts for their valuable input. The constructive comments provided by three anonymous reviewers are also greatly appreciated.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.