Biotechnology for Jatropha improvement: A worthy exploration

Comfortable life, economic growth, industrialisation, global warming, energy security and sustainable environment are burning issues facing modern civilisation. The availability of adequate renewable energy is in demand. Jatropha is being explored as a potential biofuel crop candidate because of its biodiesel production potential, high oil content, rapid growth, easy propagation, drought tolerant nature, relatively less irrigation and agricultural inputs, insect and pest resistance. However, previous programmes for Jatropha plantation did not satisfy the expectation because of the absence of a good commercial variety, large scale propagation without evaluating the planting material, knowledge gap and consideration as low a impute crop. Lack of systematic breeding programmes, the inexistence of a collaboration between scientists in this field, the unavailability of desired germplasm and more importantly less variability within the species are the constraints for the conventional breeding for a Jatropha improvement programme. Biological techniques have proven records for the improvement of many crops. Jatropha “organogenesis”, which has insignificant contribution to genetic improvement, is studied. Several genomic and transgenic studies have been reported, but it is still far behind in comparison to other crops. It is time to investigate somaclonal variation, in vitro selection and haploid breeding for Jatropha improvement. Resequencing and transcriptom analysis are necessary for high dance linkage map and a good reference genome. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection (GS) are pending. Genetic engineering, particularly to increase female flowers in inflorescence, eliminates the toxic component and increases tolerance to diseases, insects and pests should be given priority.