Physiological quality and chemical profile of developing Jatropha curcas seeds

There is little information on the physiological quality of Jatropha curcas seeds, a crop that is growing in importance because the seed oil can be used to produce biofuel. Physiological quality and chemical profile were studied during the development of J. curcas seeds. In two fruiting periods, dry weight, moisture content, fatty acid profile, viability, germination, plumule dry weight, speed of emergence index and fruit colour changes were recorded. Physiological maturity as maximum dry weight (654.1 and 639.2 mg seed^-1) occurred 75 and 78 days after anthesis (daa), with 42.7 and 36.4% seed moisture, for first and second fruiting, respectively. At physiological maturity, seeds reached 95 and 97% viability, 92 and 97% germination, and 3.1 and 2.8 speed of emergence index. Maximum content of total lipids (54.7 and 61.8%) also occurred at 75 and 78 daa, with 24.2 and 23.1% total protein in first and second fruiting, respectively. The fatty acids with the highest concentrations were palmitic (14.9 and 13.4%), stearic (8.9 and 13.3%), oleic (34.6 and 36.2%) and linoleic (39.4 and 35.1%) for first and second fruiting. It is concluded that maximum physiological quality and lipid content occurred at physiological seed maturity, which corresponded with yellow fruits.