Abstract
Jatropha curcas L. has gained attention as an ideal feedstock for biofuel production. One of the major limitations for profitable cultivation of the crop is the lack of high yielding cultivars with predictable yields. This study describes the exploitation of the mixed mating system including apomixis prevailing in the crop for development of high yielding genotypes. Evaluation of 135 accessions (AC) originating from 15 countries showed apomictic mode of seed development in 33 accessions. Based on the apomictic behavior, crosses were effected between a non-toxic high yielding genotype of Mexican origin (AC-2) and an Indian toxic genotype with synchronous maturity (AC-86). The F1 exhibited high heterosis and continued to produce seeds through both apomixis and sexual reproduction. The F1A1 progeny (n = 94) derived from the F1 hybrid through apomixis were productive with mean seed yield of 335, 586 and 644 g/plant during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years after planting. The F1A1 progeny continued to reproduce through apomixis which ranged from 9.3 to 88.3%. A dendrogram based on genetic distances obtained from 1172 single nucleotide polymorphisms of 11 apomictic progenies along with the parents and the F1 hybrid unequivocally established the maternal origin of the apomictic plants. Microscopic analysis of developing apomictic ovules showed adventitious embryos. This study demonstrates the possibility of development of high yielding cultivars in a short time frame and in a cost effective manner by combining different mating systems prevalent in the crop viz, hybridization of diverse parents, vegetative propagation of high yielding hybrids through cuttings, and perpetuation of the superior recombinants through apomixis.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr. Pankaj Kaushal, IGFRI, Jhansi, India for useful suggestions and providing the methodology of ovule clearing technique.
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The financial support of Jatropower AG, Switzerland for this study is acknowledged.
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10722_2019_851_MOESM1_ESM.jpg
Figure S1 Seed yield (g/plant) in F2 population (n = 148) during the 2nd, 3rd, 4th years of planting and cumulative yield and comparable yields of F1A1 progeny (n = 94) during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years of planting along with the cumulative yield of the corresponding 3 years for the respective populations. I, II, III and IV represent the years after planting and Cum represents cumulative seed yield. For F2 population, correlations for seed yield for 1st and 2nd years, 1st and 3rd years and 2nd and 3rd years were 0.466, 0.306 and 0.509, respectively. For F1A1 progeny, correlations for seed yield for 1st and 2nd years, 1st and 3rd years and 2nd and 3rd years were 0.597, 0.319 and 0.654, respectively. (JPG 2680 kb)
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Francis, G., John, O., Piergiorgio, S. et al. Apomixis as a tool for development of high yielding clones and selections in Jatropha curcas L.. Genet Resour Crop Evol 67, 727–743 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-019-00851-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-019-00851-0