Chemical and physical mutagenesis in Jatropha curcas

Abstract

Mutagenized populations are important resources to generate and identify desirable genetic variation of useful traits for crop improvement. When the lack of genetic variability hampers the breeding progress, mutagenesis can introduce genetic variation, reveal gene function, and aid in the characterization of candidate genes involved in biological functions. Mutagenized populations are useful for screening for altered phenotypes and physiological responses, and as a genomics tool. Jatropha curcas is a semi-wild, economically important shrub useful as a source of biofuel or in soil reclamation, but it requires genetic improvement in order to select the best genotypes for these purposes. Therefore, this chapter describes the general methods for mutation induction (chemical and physical mutagenesis) using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) treatment, gamma irradiation, X-rays, and the procedures that can be used to generate large numbers of induced mutants in different tissues of J. curcas under in vitro and in vivo conditions.