1Research Scholar, Department of Botany and Seed Technology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Botany and Seed Technology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author email: anchan.nithish@gmail.com
Online published on 29 November, 2018.
The Jatropha curcas is a multipurpose shrub. Seed oil of Jatropha has the economic potential of replacing fossil fuel. In this study seed traits namely 100 seed weight, oil yield and oil traits of accessions of Jatropha curcas falling within the Hilly Zone and Southern Transition Zone in the Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts have been examined. Significant variations were found between the accessions for 100 seed weight, which might have been because of interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Oil content of different accessions ranged between 30.98% and 50.93%. Significant variations were observed. Accessions of Hilly Zone with wet climate had better oil content than STZ accessions with drier climate. Among oil traits acid values of different accessions were well within the standard range for Jatropha oil. With the values for % FFA ranging from 0.804 to 2.864 a single-step transesterification could be employed for all the accessions during conversion of Jatropha seed oil to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME). Mean saponification values for different accessions ranged between 176.720 and 215.987. Iodine values recorded for different accessions were well within the permissible upper limit prescribed for biodiesel.
Jatropha curcas, 100 seed weight, Oil yield, FFA, Acid value, Saponification value, Iodine value
