Phenotypic Variation in Tree Form Dimensions, Fruit and Seed Traits, and Oil Content of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) from Three Provenances

Abstract

Heightened attention to Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) was driven by the belief that it can be made to yield the desired quantity of product in marginal lands, and growing it in marginal lands would prevent the food and fuel competition. Many projects on seedling production and plantation establishment were undertaken. However, identication of provenances that gives higher seed yield and oil content is deemed necessary before any massive plantation establishment ventures. Three provenances were selected, namely: Bacolod, South Cotabato, and Talisay. Regarding growth performance or tree dimensions, they all performed similarly. Variability was large in all morphological traits, the highest being in length of unbranched main stem (CV = 46.51%) and a number of first order branches (CV = 33.72%). Seed yield was positively and signicantly correlated with basal diameter, length of unbranched main stem, and crown diameter. Variability was small in fruit and seed traits. Crown diameter appeared to be a predictor (p<0.05) of three seed size parameters, namely: length, breadth and thickness. Among the seed traits, seed length was signicantly correlated (r=0.498) with oil content. The oil content in kernel ranged from 41.40% to 59.26%.