Nancy E de Las Mercedes Tavecchio

Morphoanatomical, physiological and biochemical characterization. Nancy E de Las Mercedes Tavecchio

In this book, two oil-producing species for biodiesel production with great adaptability to arid environments were studied: J. curcas and J. macrocarpa. The objective was to characterize their morphology, anatomy, biochemistry and microflora. In seeds, unsaturated fatty acids predominate; sugars and proteins are concentrated in embryos. Seeds of both species exhibit high viability; J. curcas has higher germination power and only J. macrocarpa shows physical dormancy. The early growth of J. curcas is greater than that of J. macrocarpa. The first internode of the stem shows a thick bark in both species and the pith contains starch granules. The stomatal density of the abaxial side of J. macrocarpa is lower than that of J. curcas. Restriction terminal fragment length polymorphism analyses correspond to microorganisms of the genus Streptomyces in both species. Gel electrophoresis indicates the presence of Chthonomonas in J. curcas and Pseudanabaena in both species. It is concluded that J. curcas has high germination power, high concentration of oils in its seeds and fast early growth.