Phenotypic And Molecular Characterization Of Physic Nut (jatropha Curcas L.) Populations In Ethiopia

Genetic diversity and fatty methyl esters profile of Jatropha curcas represented by fourteenrnpopulations (eleven from Ethiopia, two from Kenya and one from Tanzania) were characterized.rnTwelve different phenotypic traits and five ISSR primers were used to characterize the geneticrndiversity whereas Gas Chromatography fingerprints were used to describe the fatty methyl esterrnprofiles. A total of 140 individuals (10 individuals per population) were planted using randomizedrncomplete block design in three replications at Shewa Robit. Significant variation among thernregions and among the populations at the age of 43 weeks were observed for height, leaf length,rnleaf width, average leaf area, leaf dry matter, length of leaf from width to base and apex . On thernother hand, root collar diameter, branch numbers per plant and grain yield were not significantlyrndiffered both among regions and populations. Seeds collected from different populations variedrnsignificantly with respect to 1000-seeds weight, kernel oil content and seed oil content. The Chirornpopulation performed the best with respect to root collar diameter, height, branch number perrnplant and first year grain yield (304.19 kg per hectare). The first year grain yield of Mersa,rnJeweha, and Assossa population were 247.73, 227.45, and 226.89 kilo gram per hectare,rnregarding to 1000-seeds weight (540.44 g) and seed oil content (37.4 %). Shewa Robit populationrnwas the second superior genotype regarding seed oil content but the grain yield of this populationrnwas below the average. When oil yield productivity per hectare is considered, Chiro, Assossa,rnMersa and Jeweha populations performed better than others. Growth traits were positivelyrncorrelated with leaf and agronomic traits except plant height versus average leaf dry matter. Grainrnyield showed positive correlation with growth traits whilst negative correlations were observedrnwith leaf and agronomic traits. Seed oil content was associated negatively with growth and leafrntraits whereas significant positive correlation was observed with agronomic traits. Amplificationrnof genomic DNA using five ISSR primers produced 71 DNA fragments and all fragments werernfound to be polymorphic. Number of amplified fragments varied from nine for primer (818) tornseventeen for primer (873) with an average of 14.2 fragments per primer. Percent ofrnpolymorphism within population ranged from 21.43 (Kenya II) to 80.39 (Arbaminch). ThernShannon diversity index varied from 0.243 (Kenya II) to 0.759 (Arusha / Tanzania). The Nei’srngene diversity (h*), Shannon information index (I*), total gene diversity (Ht) and estimated genernflow were 0.273, 0.431. 0.272 and 0.785, respectively. Analysis of Shannon diversity index, Nei’srngenetic diversity and AMOVA revealed that most of the genetic diversity was due to variationrnwithin population but differentiation among population was also significant. Biodiesel from 14rnpopulations of Jatropha curcas comprised six fatty methyl esters in common (16:0, 16:1, 18:0,rn18:1, 18:2, and 18:3). Saturated fatty methyl ester varied from 19.04 % (Mersa) to 28.91%rn(Arbaminch) with an average of 22.69%. The unsaturated fatty methyl ester ranged from 71.09%rn(Arbaminch) to 80.96% (Mersa) with an average of 77.33%. Biodiesel from Mersa and Assossarnpopulations exhibited higher monosaturated fatty methyl ester. Jatropha curcas populations ofrnthis study exhibited higher genetic diversity (particularly, at DNA level) than most of previousrnstudies. Some of these populations produced satisfactory grain yield. Moreover, seed oil contentrnand fatty acid profiles are comparable with most former studies.rnKey words: Jatropha curcas, genetic diversity, phenotypic traits, fatty acid, biodiesel

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