Breeding Jatropha curcas by genomic selection: A pilot assessment of the accuracy of predictive models.

Genomic wide selection is a promising approach for improving the selection accuracy in plant breeding, particularly in species with long life cycles, such as Jatropha. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to estimate the genetic parameters for grain yield (GY) and the weight of 100 seeds (W100S) using restricted maximum likelihood (REML); to compare the performance of GWS methods to predict GY and W100S; and to estimate how many markers are needed to train the GWS model to obtain the maximum accuracy. Eight GWS models were compared in terms of predictive ability. The impact that the marker density had on the predictive ability was investigated using a varying number of markers, from 2 to 1,248. Because the genetic variance between evaluated genotypes was significant, it was possible to obtain selection gain. All of the GWS methods tested in this study can be used to predict GY and W100S in Jatropha. A training model fitted using 1,000 and 800 markers is sufficient to capture the maximum genetic variance and, consequently, maximum prediction ability of GY and W100S, respectively. This study demonstrated the applicability of genome-wide prediction to identify useful genetic sources of GY and W100S for Jatropha breeding. Further research is needed to confirm the applicability of the proposed approach to other complex traits.

Joint analysis of phenotypic and molecular diversity provides new insights on the genetic variability of the Brazilian physic nut germplasm bank.

The genetic variability of the Brazilian physic nut (Jatropha curcas) germplasm bank (117 accessions) was assessed using a combination of phenotypic and molecular data. The joint dissimilarity matrix showed moderate correlation with the original matrices of phenotypic and molecular data. However, the correlation between the phenotypic dissimilarity matrix and the genotypic dissimilarity matrix was low. This finding indicated that molecular markers (RAPD and SSR) did not adequately sample the genomic regions that were relevant for phenotypic differentiation of the accessions. The dissimilarity values of the joint dissimilarity matrix were used to measure phenotypic + molecular diversity. This diversity varied from 0 to 1.29 among the 117 accessions, with an average dissimilarity among genotypes of 0.51. Joint analysis of phenotypic and molecular diversity indicated that the genetic diversity of the physic nut germplasm was 156% and 64% higher than the diversity estimated from phenotypic and molecular data, respectively. These results show that Jatropha genetic variability in Brazil is not as limited as previously thought.

Estimates of genetic parameters for physic nut traits based in the germplasm two years evaluation / Estimativa de parâmetros genéticos de caracteres de pinhão-manso em dois anos de avaliação do banco de germoplasma

In spite of increasingly widespread interest in planting physic nut, breeding efforts are still in its infancy. In that context, an important resource recently established aiming future breeding efforts was the assembly of a germplasm bank with near 200 accessions. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters, repeatibility coefficients and genetic correlation between seven traits, measured in 110 accessions (half sib families) of this germplasm bank in different stages of development. The results show that higher relative values of additive variance were only found for yield and height, and the existence of low environmental variation (either of temporary or permanent nature) among plots within blocks. Given the high repeatibility values found for all traits, on average three measurements are necessary to predict, accurately and efficiently, the true breeding value of an individual. Based on the results of genetic correlations, breeding effort should initially be use track trees with increased stem diameter, elevated number of branches and canopy volume so as to increase the chances of finding an exceptionally highly productive tree.

Apesar do crescente interesse no plantio do pinhão manso, os esforços de melhoramento ainda estão em seu início. Nesse contexto, um importante recurso recentemente estabelecido visando a futuros trabalhos de melhoramento foi a montagem de um banco de germoplasma com cerca de 200 acessos. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos, coeficientes de repetibilidade e correlações genéticas entre sete características, mensuradas em 110 acessos (famílias de meios-irmãos) desse banco de germoplasma em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. Os resultados demonstram que valores elevados de variância genética aditiva foram encontrados apenas para produção e altura e a existência de baixa variação ambiental (tanto de natureza temporária quanto permanente) entre parcelas dentro de blocos. Dado os altos valores de repetibilidade encontrados para todas as características, em média três mensurações são necessárias para se predizer, acurada e eficientemente, o real valor de melhoramento de um indivíduo. Baseado nos resultados de correlações genéticas, esforços de melhoramento devem inicialmente ser usados para se identificar árvores de elevado diâmetro de caule, elevado número de ramos e volume de copa, de modo a aumentar as chances de se encontrar árvores excepcionalmente produtivas.

Phenology and biometry of physic nut in the brazilian savannah / Fenologia e biometria de pinhão-manso no cerrado

Phenological studies on three morphologically distinct accessions of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) were conducted in the Brazilian Savannah biome. Plant growth rate, flowering, fruit formation and development were measured in order to establish appropriate management practices for increasing productivity. The accessions CNPAE-102 (toxic and susceptible to powdery mildew), CNPAE-169 (non-toxic and susceptible to powdery mildew) and CNPAE-259 (toxic and resistant to powdery mildew) were studied. Accessions with undetectable levels of phorbol ester in the grains were considered as non-toxic. The agronomic variables (plant height, number of inflorescences, number of green and ripe fruits per plant) from each accession were measured biweekly during one year (August 2009 to July 2010), correlating them with climatic variables using the Pearson's correlation analysis. CNPAE-102 showed the highest growth rate (0.76 cm day-1), with 1.10 m increment in height and final height of 2.60 m. CNPAE-169 showed the lowest growth rate (0.63 cm day-1) with final mean height of 1.85 m. CNPAE-102 and CNPAE-259 showed early cycle and CNPAE-169, late cycle. The minimum temperature was the climatic variable that determined the most inflorescences.

Estudos fenológicos de três acessos morfologicamente distintos de pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) foram conduzidos no bioma Cerrado brasileiro. A taxa de crescimento da planta, florescimento, formação e desenvolvimento dos frutos foram medidos, a fim de se estabelecer práticas de manejo eficientes para o aumento de produtividade. Os acessos estudados foram: CNPAE-102 (tóxico, susceptível a oídio), CNPAE-169 (não-tóxico, susceptível a oídio) e CNPAE-259 (tóxico, resistente a oídio). Os materiais considerados não-tóxicos não possuem ésteres de forbol detectáveis nos grãos. No período de um ano (agosto de 2009 a julho de 2010) registraram-se, quinzenalmente, as variáveis agronômicas (altura de plantas, número de inflorescências, número de frutos verdes e maduros por planta) de cada acesso, correlacionando-as com as variáveis climáticas, por meio da análise de correlação de Pearson. O acesso CNPAE-102 apresentou a maior taxa de crescimento (0,76 cm dia-1), incremento 1,10 m na altura e altura final de 2,60 m; o CNPAE-169 apresentou menor incremento (0,63 cm dia-1), atingindo altura final de 1,85 m. Os acessos CNPAE-259 e CNPAE-102 foram os mais precoces, e o CNPAE-169 o mais tardio. A temperatura mínima foi a variável climática que determinou o maior número de inflorescências.

Caracterização morfo-agronômica do banco de germoplasma de pinhao manso na fase jovem / Morpho-agronomic characterization of the germplasm bank of jatropha young stage

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a caracterização mofo-agronômica no banco de germoplasma de pinhão-manso com base na avaliação fenotípica realizada no primeiro ano de implantação. O estudo foi realizado com 175 acessos de pinhão-manso do banco de germoplasma, que estão implantados em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com duas repetições, sendo cinco plantas por parcela no espaçamento 4 x 2 m. As características estudadas foram produção de grãos, número de ramos secundários, altura, diâmetro de caule, projeção da copa juvenilidade e altura da primeira inflorescência. Com base nos resultados, verifica-se a existência de variabilidade genética no banco de germoplasma para os caracteres avaliados, sendo possível estabelecer um programa de melhoramento genético para a cultura. As variáveis avaliadas influenciaram diferencialmente, de maneira direta ou indireta, na produção de grãos, sendo a juvenilidade a característica que apresentou o maior efeito direto (negativo) na produção de grãos. Há acessos de pinhão-manso com ausência de ésteres de forbol nos grãos que podem ser fonte de variabilidade genética para o desenvolvimento de cultivares comerciais não tóxicas. Os caracteres quantitativos que mais contribuíram para a divergência genética foram juvenilidade e produção de grãos.

The objective of this work was to make the morpho-agronomic characterization of genetic diversity in the germplasm bank of jatropha based phenotypic analysis performed on the first year of deployment. The study was conducted with 175 accessions of jatropha from the germplasm bank, which are implanted in a randomized block design with two replications, five plants per plot, spaced 4 x 2 m. Based on the results, it appears that there is genetic variability in germplasm bank for all the traits can be exploited in a breeding program for the crop. The variables differentially influenced, directly or indirectly, in grain production, with the juvenility trait with the highest direct effect (negative) in grain production. There are accessions of jatropha in the absence of phorbol esters in the grains that can be a source of genetic variability for the development of commercial cultivars non-toxic. The quantitative traits that contributed most to genetic diversity were juvenile and grain production.