Variations of fruit and seed traits of Jatropha curcas L. among provenances

In order to study the genetic variability of Jatropha curcas L. , the fruit characteristics of 2-year-old J. curcas of 43 provenances were investigated in Dongshan Forest Farm in Haikou City, southern China. The provenances involved Thailand, Vietnam and other areas in China, such as Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guizhou and Hainan provinces, etc. The average single fruit weight, 100-seed-weight, kernel- producing rate, seed-producing rate, seed size, and seed oil content were analyzed, and also the geographic variation trends of the fruits in J. curcas germplasm were observed. The results showed that average single fruit weight, 100-seed weight and seed size were significantly positive correlated with latitude, and significantly negatively correlated with longitude, respectively. There was highly significant geographic variation for average single fruit weight and 100-seed weight. The geographic variation trends of seed and the correlations among seed traits were revealed, and this will provide technical reference for promoting and improving the economic traits of J. curcas in Hainan Province of southern China.