J1.4 Jatropha breeding experiments
Jatropha Program > J1. Germplasm Development... > J1.4 Jatropha breeding experiments
Last Update: 05. June 2008
Description:
Screening and selection of identified Jatropha genotypes under different environmental conditions regarding growth, seed yield, terminated maturity, pest and disease resistance.
LIRE - Initial screening took place in the nursery
LIRE - Land preparation for new test fields
Initial screening took place in the nursery.
Land preparation for new test fields
LIRE - Plantation of test fields with the help of students from DATS University
LIRE breeding beam at a test field to conduct screening
Plantation of test fields with the help of students from DATS University
LIRE breeding beam at a test field to conduct screening
Status of work:
  • Test fields for Jatropha progenies have been established and the screening of different genotypes has begun.
  • Collection of different Jatropha varieties for breeding experiments will continue in the 2008 vegetation period (Project J1.2)
  • Further elite plants will be selected and used for the breeding program.
Program Leader:
Assistants:
Involved agencies:DATS
Funding agencies:
No contractual arrangements so far.
Historically, Jatropha has never been cultivated because of the high oil content in its seeds. Instead, it is traditionally used for hedging to protect fields and settlements from animals. This use of the plant led to an optimization of leaves and not to the production of seeds. Therefore, high yielding Jatropha plants are not available at the moment. LIRE wants to focus its efforts on breeding in order to produce high yielding plants that will make the production of Jatropha efficient for small scale as well for large scale production.
Due to the wet and long lasting rainy season in Laos, fruits are exposed to moisture and therefore it is likely that they will be affected by fungus. Furthermore, the process of harvesting plants is much easier at certain times, preferably after the rainy season, when leaf density decreases and the weather is dry. Jatropha plants with late and simultaneous fruit maturation could simplify cultivation significantly.
LIRE having finished the identification and collection of interesting plants, monitoring activities have started in the nursery. There, ratings regarding germination rates, growth of seedlings and flower production of cuttings have been the focus of LIRE’s latest activities.
In April 2008, LIRE planted the propagated plants in plots at two different places around Vientiane in order to screen growth, seed yield and pest resistance under different environmental conditions. Based on future observations, the best plants will be selected. Afterwards, the selected plants from the test field will be planted together with newly collected Jatropha cultivars from Laos and abroad to continue the selection process.
The LIRE plant breeding programme is a long term process which will take several years. However, first results are expected at the end of the 2008 rainy season.
LIRE's main aim is to determine the potential of Jatropha plants and also to generate improved seed material with regard to LIRE’s breeding objectives: high yielding plants, terminated maturity and resistance to pests, diseases and stress.
Documents: