EVALUATION DE LA DIVERSITE GENETIQUE DU POURGHERE (Jatropha curcas L.) AU BURKINA FASO [ ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OF Jatropha curcas L. in BURKINA FASO ]

Jatropha curcas L. is a perennial oleaginous plant which is known for its multiple uses. The oil extracted from its seeds is used in the manufacture of biodiesel and soap. The plant also has therapeutic virtues and insecticidal properties. In Burkina Faso, the species remains under exploited. Despite its potentialities, the genetic diversity of this phytogenetic resource is badly known. This study was conducted to determine the level and the structuring of the genetic variability of a collection of 70 accessions coming from the various phytogeographical sectors of the country and to estimate the genetic parameters of the various characters. Thus, an agro-morphological evaluation of the collection was carried out during the rainy season 2014. Eleven (11) quantitative characters relating to the vegetative development and the potential of production of the plant were used. This study revealed the existence of variability within accessions. The characters related to the yield showed greater variability than those related of the vegetative development. The analysis of the structuring of variability showed that plants which have an important vegetative development are more productive than those of little size.The estimate of the genetic parameters revealed a weak difference between the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation and high broad sense heritability for all the characters. The characters related to the yield expressed the highest expected genetic advance, phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. The results of the study can be exploited in Jatropha curcas' improvement program.