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Diversity and distribution of genus Jatropha in Mexico

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Abstract

In Mexico and all over the world, the number of studies on the species of the Jatropha genus has increased because of the use of its seed oil to produce biodiesel. However, the knowledge of the taxonomy, distribution, and ethnobotany of these and related species is incomplete. This article presents the distribution of the genus in Mexico according to its internationally accepted taxonomic identity. The distribution is linked to environmental variables such as elevation, climate type, soil, and soil moisture patterns. In addition to showing the current taxonomical knowledge in Mexico, this article discusses its biogeography, its traditional uses and the research lines to follow in further study of the genus. The distribution results show that some species are broadly adapted; as a consequence, they are present in many different environments. Species such as J. dioica, J. curcas, J. cordata, J. cinerea and J. gaumeri are distributed in areas with well defined environmental conditions. However, the distribution of species such as J. riojae has not yet been ascertained. Three areas with high species richness were identified, and they are very important for the study and conservation of the genus. Mexico is a global center of diversity for this genus. Food and medicinal uses have been reported for some species. This article concludes with recommendations for further study to improve the knowledge of this genus in Mexico.

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Notes

  1. http://www.sagarpa.gob.mx/agricultura/Documents/PROINBIOS_20091013.pdf.

  2. Referred as synonymous for Jatropha platyphylla Müll. Arg.

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Acknowledgments

For this study, both authors were supported by CONACYT-UCMEXUS (Mexican Council of Science and Technology and University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States) doctoral fellowships at University of California, Davis. We thank Ing. Jorge Ramírez Guerrero and M.Sc. Cecilio Mota Cruz for their valuable comments. Thanks to Dr. Jesús Axayacatl Cuevas Sánchez, curator of BANGEV for the valuable information regarding to ex situ conservation of the species boarded in this study, and Daniel Barrera Jímenez, graduate student at Universidad Autonóma Chapingo for the information about collection un public institutions in Mexico. Special thanks to Palma Lower, writing specialist at UC Davis, for her valuable comments and corrections during the improvement of this paper. And last but not least, to the two anonymous reviewers and Dr. Hammer, Editor in Chief of GRACE, as their comments and suggestions were very useful to improve this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Group in Horticulture and Agronomy, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, One Shields Ave. Mail Stop 2, 2053 Wickson Hall, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    J. Fresnedo-Ramírez

  2. Geography Graduate Group, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Q. Orozco-Ramírez

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  1. J. Fresnedo-Ramírez
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  2. Q. Orozco-Ramírez
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Correspondence to J. Fresnedo-Ramírez.

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J. Fresnedo-Ramírez and Q. Orozco-Ramírez both authors contributed equality to the preparation of this study and paper.

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Fresnedo-Ramírez, J., Orozco-Ramírez, Q. Diversity and distribution of genus Jatropha in Mexico. Genet Resour Crop Evol 60, 1087–1104 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-012-9906-7

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