Abstract

Although Jatropha curcas L. is known as a source of oil-rich seeds as economically viable substitute of diesel, little is currently known about the genetic resource of J. curcas in China. In this study, RAPD and ISSR data were utilized to determine the genetic relationships among J. curcas clones from Panzhihua, China. Five RAPD and twelve ISSR primers generated reproducible amplification banding pattern of 43 polymorphic bands out of 126 scored accounting, for 34% polymorphism across the clones. The UPGMA cluster analysis indicated two broad groups, one comprising all the clones except the clones from YuanMou, which formed the smaller second group. Congruously, the samples belonging to the same origin grouped into their distinct origin lineages. The overall grouping pattern of clustering was irrelevant to the seeds oil content of these clones. This study provides valid guidelines for collection, conservation and characterization of J. curcas genetic resources from Panzhihua and also for further breeding program towards biodiesel production.

Key words: Jatropha curcas L., genetic relationship, molecular marker.