The interest in using Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) as a feedstock for the production of bio-diesel is rapidly growing. The properties of the crop and its oil have persuaded investors, policy makers and clean development mechanism (CDM) project developers to consider JCL as a substitute for fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, JCL is still a wild plant of which basic agronomic properties are not thoroughly understood and the environmental effects have not been investigated yet. Gray literature reports are very optimistic on simultaneous wasteland reclamation capability and oil yields, further fueling the Jatropha bio-diesel hype. In this paper, we give an overview of the currently available information on the different process steps of the production process of bio-diesel from JCL, being cultivation and production of seeds, extraction of the oil, conversion to and the use of the bio-diesel and the by-products. Based on this collection of data and information the best available practice, the shortcomings and the potential environmental risks and benefits are discussed for each production step. The review concludes with a call for general precaution and for science to be applied. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Jatropha bio-diesel production and use

An evaluation of multipurpose oil seed crop for industrial uses (Jatropha curcas L.): A review

Biology and genetic improvement of Jatropha curcas L.: A review

Aberrant energy metabolism is one characteristic of diabetes mellitus (DM). Two types of DM have been identified, type 1 and type 2. Most of type 2 DM patients eventually become insulin dependent b...

Resveratrol, a red wine antioxidant, possesses an insulin-like effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

http://www.salmone.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/transgenics-are-imperative-for-biofuel-crops.pdf

Transgenics are imperative for biofuel crops

Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) is an oil-bearing species with multiple uses and considerable potential as a bioenergy crop. The present investigation has been undertaken to assess the extent of genetic diversity in a representative set of 42 accessions of J. curcas encompassing different crop growing regions in India along with a non-toxic genotype from Mexico as a prelude for utilization of promising and genetically divergent materials in the breeding programmes. Molecular polymorphism was 42.0% with 400 RAPD primers and 33.5% with 100 ISSR primers between accessions indicating modest levels of genetic variation in the Indian germplasm. The within-population variation based on RAPD polymorphism was 64.0% and was on par with the inter-population variation. Polymorphic ISSR markers have been identified that could differentiate the Indian accessions from the Mexican genotype and two of them were converted to SCAR markers. The SCAR primer pair ISPJ1 amplified a 543 bp fragment in all the Indian populations, while ISPJ2 with a specific amplicon of 1,096 bp was specific to the Mexican genotype. Population-specific bands have been identified for the accession from Kerala (2 RAPD markers), Neemuch-1 from Rajasthan (1 each of RAPD and ISSR markers) and the non-toxic genotype from Mexico (17 RAPD and 4 ISSR markers), which serve as diagnostic markers in genotyping. The study indicates an immediate need for widening the genetic base of J. curcas germplasm through introduction of accessions with broader geographical background.

Inter and intra-population variability of Jatropha curcas (L.) characterized by RAPD and ISSR markers and development of population-specific SCAR markers

Protocols for in vitro propagation of non-toxic variety of J. curcas through axillary bud proliferation and direct adventitious shoot bud regeneration from leaf segments have been established. Shoot bud proliferation from axillaries was assessed on an initial basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) salt medium supplemented with different concentrations of benzyladenine (BA), kinetin and thidiazuron (TDZ) followed by subculture to medium with 4.4-8.9 μM BA. Regardless of the concentration of BA in the subculture medium, shoot multiplication rate was optimum (10–12.3) with primary culture on medium supplemented with 2.3–4.5 μM TDZ. Efficient adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf tissues was achieved with culture on medium with 8.9–44.4 μM BA + 4.9 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) followed by transfer to medium supplemented with 8.9 μM BA + 2.5 μM IBA. Similarity index between toxic Indian variety and the non-toxic variety based on 435 RAPD markers was 96.3%. Crossing studies followed by phorbol ester quantitation revealed that outcrosses with toxic J. curcas do not affect the phorbol ester content of seeds borne on the non-toxic variety.

Shoot Bud Proliferation from Axillary Nodes and Leaf Sections of Non-toxic Jatropha curcas L.

Role of biotechnological interventions in the improvement of castor (Ricinus communis L.) and Jatropha curcas L.

A comparative study of biochemical traits and molecular markers for assessment of genetic relationships between Jatropha curcas L. germplasm from different countries

Techniques for the regeneration of Jatropha curcas L. from various explants have been developed. Regeneration from hypocotyl, petiole and leaf explants was evaluated on a range of concentrations of zeatin, kinetin and N6 benzyladenine (BA) either singly or in combination with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Higher regeneration from hypocotyl and petiole explants was obtained on BA with IBA than on zeatin- or kinetin-supplemented media. Leaf discs from the third expanding leaf exhibited higher regeneration potential than those from the fourth leaf. Independent of the explant type, direct adventitious shoot bud induction was recorded highest on MS medium with 2.22 μM BA and 4.9 μM IBA. Although the same BA concentration but with reduced IBA concentration (0.49 μM) proved effective in callus mediated regeneration from hypocotyl and leaf explants, the petioles required lower concentrations of the two growth regulators (0.44 μM BA and 0.49 μM IBA). Regenerated shoots could be rooted on growth regulator-free gelled full-strength MS medium. Following simple hardening procedures, the in vitro-raised plants could be transferred to soil and grown to maturity in the field.

M. Sujatha

Papers

Inter and intra-population variability of Jatropha curcas (L.) characterized by RAPD and ISSR markers and development of population-specific SCAR markers

Shoot Bud Proliferation from Axillary Nodes and Leaf Sections of Non-toxic Jatropha curcas L.

Role of biotechnological interventions in the improvement of castor (Ricinus communis L.) and Jatropha curcas L.

A comparative study of biochemical traits and molecular markers for assessment of genetic relationships between Jatropha curcas L. germplasm from different countries

Morphogenesis and plant regeneration from tissue cultures of Jatropha curcas