Jatropha curcas L., has been widely recognized as a potential source of biodiesel. In this review, we presented several aspects about the recent progress in molecular biology of J. curcas. First, molecular markers were used to assess its genetic diversity. Second, large-scale genome, transcriptome and proteome analyses were applied for decoding its molecular network. Third, functional characterization of key genes involved in metabolism and regulation of plant development was performed to breed lines with higher quality or higher resistance. Finally, we discussed the limitation of current progress and then proposed the future molecular biology research on J. curcas.
Genetic Variation ; Genome, Plant ; genetics ; Jatropha ; genetics ; Proteome ; genetics ; Transcriptome ; genetics

OBJECTIVEThe genetic diversity and genetic relationship of Jatropha curcas resources in Sichuan and Yunnan were studied in order to provide a theoretical basis for breeding fine varieties and protecting germplasm resources.

METHODTen J. curcas populations were studied by 12 cpSSR primers in this paper. On the base of amplified bands, genetic diversity parameters were analyzed by POPGENE version 1.32. Furthermore, UPGMA tree of 10 J. curcas populations established from pairwise population distance by NTSYSpc version 2.10.

RESULTTwenty-two polymorphic bands were detected, and the percentage of polymorphic loci (P) was 76.28%. Among of the 10 J. curcas populations, the average percentage of polymorphic loci of YNSB was higher than that of the other populations, and it reached 95.45%; On the other hand, that of YNLS was the lowest in all populations, and it was 45.45%. Nei's gene diversity index(H(e)), Shannon information index(I), Effective Num of alleles(A(e)) were respectively 0.4020, 0.576 7, 1.713 6. The total gene diversity (H(T)), the gene differentiation coefficient (G(st)), the gene flow (N(m)) and the gene diversity within populations (H(s)) were 0.443 3, 0.080 2, 3.058 5, 0.405 1, 0.035 7, respectively. The highest gene diversity ratio was showed within populations and the lowest among populations. The results by AMOVA analysis showed that 91.02% of genetic variation existed within populations while 8.98% of genetic variation existed among populations. On the base of the results, the conclusion was extracted that variation existed mainly within populations, and the variation within populations was bigger than that among populations. The result was consistent with that of the gene differentiation coefficient. The order of the genetic diversity was YNLS population < XSBN population < SCHPZ population < SCHD population < SCJH population < YNPR population < SCLB population < YNSB population < YNFY population < SCHL population. The range of Nei's genetic identity and genetic distance of 10 respectively populations were respectively 0.812 7-0.979 8, 0.020 4-0.207 3. All these showed the similarity was higher and there was a close relationship among the 10 respectively populations; Results based on the cluster analysis showed that 10 respectively populations were divided into 2 groups: one was SCJH population and CHPZ population, the other was SCHL population, SCHD population, SCLB population, YNSB population, YNFY population, YNPR population, XSBN population and YNLS population.

CONCLUSIONSignificant genetic diversity was observed among respectively resources in Sichuan and Yunnan. On the other hand, genetic relationship was close between populations.

China ; Chloroplasts ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Jatropha ; classification ; genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the molluscicidal activities of methanol extract of Jatropha curcas leaves against Ampullaria gigas.

METHODSYoung snails, adult snails and eggs of Ampullaria gigas were treated with the methanol extract of J. curcas leaves at different doses for different time lengths and the molluscicidal effects of the extract were evaluated.

RESULTSThe methanol extract showed a significant molluscicidal effect on the young snails at a low concentration, and treatment with 75 mg/L extract for more than 3 days resulted in a 100% mortality rate of the young snails. The Jatropha leaf methanol extract also showed toxicity to adult snails and eggs.

CONCLUSIONJatropha leaves have a great potential for developing green pesticides to control Ampullaria gigas, but its biochemical mechanism needs further research.

Animals ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; Methanol ; chemistry ; Molluscacides ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Snails ; classification ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo determine the chemical constituents of Jatropha curcas.

METHODChemical constituents were obtained using various chromatography methods including silica gel column chromatography and HPLC. The structures of isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and MS.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONFourteen phenolic compounds were obtained from the stems of J. curcas and their structures were identified to be 5,4'-dihydroxy-3, 7, 3'-trimethoxyflavone (1), 5, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone (2), 3-O-methylquercetin (3), 5, 6, 7-trimethoxycoumarin (4), tomentin (5), isoscopoletin (6), omega-hydroxypropioquaiacone (7), coniferaldehyde (8), 3, 5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (9), vanillic acid (10), isovanillin (11), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (12), cimifugin (13) and (E)-3-hydroxy-5-methoxy-stilbene (14). Among them, compounds 1-4 and 6-14 were isolated from the genus of Jatropha for the first time.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Different geographic seed sources (80) of Jatropha curcas L. were collected in South China and planted in a germplasm resource garden to study their biological and agricultural properties. The average ground diameter, tree height and crown size of two-year old plants of the 80 sources was 7.6 cm, 167 cm and 114 cm, respectively, the average 1000-seed weight was 0.676 (0.477-0.876) kg. The trees grew further to the average size of 12.6 cm diameter, 2.69 m height and 2.1 m crown at the 4th year. Among the 80 sources, six sources had higher oil yield (seed oil content of 40%-42%) and better behaving in expression of phenotype were selected for a small-scale trial of forestation to determine oil yield. Among them a provenance with outstand in expression of phenotype yielded 964.3, 2000.6 and 2858.7 kg/ha was achieved for two- three- and four-year old trees, respectively. Additionally, a new Jatropha mutant was found in the wild and hybridization experiments showed that its oil content increased by 6%.
Biofuels ; Breeding ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Jatropha ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Plant Oils ; analysis ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the sensitivity of Jatropha curcas seeds from three different locations to (60)Co-gamma radiation and to determine the medial lethal doses (LD50) of (60)Co-gamma radiation for these seeds.

METHODSSix different radiation doses (0, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 Gy) were used. Based on the germination rate 50%, LD50 doses of (60)Co-gamma radiation for the seeds were calculated using linear regression equation.

RESULTSLD50 doses of (60)Co-gamma radiation for these seeds were 178 Gy (seeds from Guangdong), 132 Gy (seeds from Hainan) and 198 Gy (seeds from India) respectively. Increasing radiation doses caused more significant changes in leaf shape of the M1 seedlings.

CONCLUSIONThe results provides an important experimental basis for the radiation breeding of the important herbal and energy plant J. curcas.

Cobalt Radioisotopes ; toxicity ; Gamma Rays ; Germination ; radiation effects ; Jatropha ; radiation effects ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Seeds ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the bioactive components in Jatropha curcas leaves using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

METHODSThe bioactive components were extracted from J. curcas leaves by supercritical fluid CO2 extraction and analyzed by using GC-MS.

RESULTSSeventy peaks were detected by GC-MS, and 43 compounds were identified (61.43%). Among the identified compounds, 16 had a content of more than 1%, and the total contents of these 16 compounds reached 81.36%. The four most abundant components were 22,23-dihydro-stigmasterol (16.14%), alpha-tocopherol (15.18%), beta-amylin (7.73%) and dotriacontanol (7.02%). The content of gamma-tocopherol reached 2.88% and vitamin E reached 18.06% in the extract.

CONCLUSIONJ. curcas leaves contain multiple compounds with anti-tumor, anti-virus and antimicrobial activities.

Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; methods ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the oil contents and fatty acid composition among the samples of Jatropha curcas L. seeds collected from China (Guangdong, Hainan, and Guizhou Provinces) and India.

METHODSSoxhlet extraction method and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed to determine the oil contents of Jatropha seeds and the fatty acid composition of Jatropha oil.

RESULTSThe seed oil contents (dry basis) were 32.43% (Guangdong), 31.41% (Hainan), 37.56% (Guizhou) and 41.04% (India), respectively. Twelve different fatty acids were detected by GC-MS, and the content of total unsaturated fatty acids accounted for 80.93%, 79.53%, 77.24% and 78.22% of the total fatty acids in the samples collected from Guangdong, Hainan, Guizhou and India, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThere are differences in the oil contents and fatty acid composition among the J. curcas seeds collected from different regions, and attention should be given to these differences in the introduction and breeding of J. curcas.

China ; Fatty Acids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; India ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; classification ; Plant Oils ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo construct mature protein curcin gene prokaryotic expression vectors in Escherichia coli and choose the optimal inducing condition of the recombinant strains.

METHODThe gene encoding of curcin was amplified from the genome of Jatropha curcas seeds by PCR and cloned into the expression vectors pQE-30 and pET-32 obtaining recombinant vectors pQE-R and pET-R respectively. The two vectors were transferred into E. coli BL21 (DE3) and the recombinant strains PRM and PRB were attained respectively. PRM and PRB were induced by different revulsants and under different temperature and time.

RESULTThe gene encoding of mature protein curcin was amplified by PCR and the recombinant strains PRM and PRB were obtained.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that PRB could not produce recombinant protein under such conditions. However, PRM could highly produce recombinant protein induced by 0.5 mmol x L(-1) IPTG at 28 degrees C for 6 h.

Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genome, Plant ; genetics ; Jatropha ; genetics ; Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo develop a new technique for efficient and rapid non-test tube cloning of the medicinal and energy- producing plant Jatropha curcas.

METHODSUsing the mini-stem fragment (2-3 cm) of Jatropha curcas with merely one axillary bud as the explant, the effect of an auxin IBA concentration on the plantlet regeneration was studied.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONWhen treated with 1 mg/LIBA for 1h, the explants showed the most rapid propagation. The mini-stem fragments high root regeneration ratio (96.7%), short root regeneration period (18.2-/+2.0 d), large number of new roots per explant (6.3-/+1.8), and long total root length (6.8-/+3.5 cm), demonstrating that this technique can be a simple and efficient method for rapid non-test tube cloning of Jatropha curcas of potential industrial value.

Cloning, Organism ; methods ; Jatropha ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Temperature ; Time Factors