Seeds characterization of wild species Jatropha peiranoi endemic of arid areas of Monte Desert Biome, Argentina

Abstract

Jatropha peiranoi grows in the arid northern area of Monte Desert Biome in Argentina. This plant is adapted to low temperatures during the winter season. This study deeply describes the seed structure and oil characteristics as well as the clonal in vitro propagation of the plant in order to evaluate its potential as a new energetic crop. Wild seeds were harvested from Santa Maria Valley during the reproductive season. The color of its tegument showed a great variability given by the time of harvest and degree of ripening of the fruits. The endosperm was rich in oleosomes and protein bodies. The seed oil yield obtained was 33%. The lipid profile was linoleic acid (75%), oleic acid (15.6%), stearic acid (4%) and palmitic acid (5.9%). The oil was stable to the high temperatures, with a boiling point at 380 °C, without decomposition even at 400 °C. Lipolytic enzymes were detected in the seed-cake, with values of 84.5 U/g and 46.7 U/g for lipase and esterase, respectively. A protocol for in vitro clonal propagation was achieved employing nodal explants. For the shoot induction and proliferation, a concentration of BAP up to 0.2 mg/L caused an increase in the number of axillary shoots per explant. The optimum IBA concentration for the rooting was 0.2 mg/L. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized in soil. Currently, the field performance of clones with desirable traits is being evaluated. This work contributes to Jatropha species knowledge since Jatropha peiranoi is one of the adapted species to extreme environmental conditions that differs from other members of the genus.