Implemented by: Flemming Nielsen (FACT/ Banana hill)

The lack of knowledge about Jatropha varieties is a serious obstacle to progress in improvement of the Jatropha germplasm. The program Jatropha curcas evaluation, breeding and propagation programme (JEP) of Wageningen University requested seed samples worldwide. We decided to contribute and submitted samples of the main local seed source at Bilibiza and a source in Niasa. The samples were received but a mishap in the laboratory left the samples useless.

This poster and this presentation gives an overview of the findings. It was found that the genetic diversity in the African accessions is very low and breeding therefore requires inclusion of material from areas with higher varity, like Central America.