Research on Genetic Variation of Seed Traits of Different Jatropha curcas Populations in West

The seed characteristics of 12 Jatropha curcas populations from west Panzhiihua region were measured and analyzed to reveal the variation law of different qualitative seed traits and kernel rate among the studied J. curcas populations. The results showed that there were extremely significant differences either within or among the populations in the seed weight, the hull weight, the kernel weight and the kernel rate. The Pulong population displayed higher values in seed weight, kernel weight and kernel rate. Among the 4 phenotypic traits, the average coefficient of variation of the kernel weight was the largest (27.79%), and that of the seed weight was the second largest (22.13%), which was followed by that of the hull weight (19.46%) and the kernel rate had the lowest variation coefficient (11.58%). The study indicated the kernel rate was the most stable trait, while the kernel weight was the most unstable one. It was showed that there were no geographical laws to govern the qualitative property variation in different parts of the seeds, while the seed traits and the kernel rate were mainly controlled by genetic factors. The study showed that the kernel weight was significantly and positively correlated with seed weight and the kernel rate, whereas the seed weight was negatively correlated with the hull weight. The kernel weight could be calculated with the seed weight by means of applying the model: Y=0.127+1.248x.