Effect of fungal biotic stress on physic nut (Jatropha Curcas L.)

Abstract

Jatropha curcas L. is a small tree that grows originally in areas near the equator. The oil plant Jatropha curcas L., a multipurpose drought resistant, perennial plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae family is gaining a lot of importance for the production of bio-diesel. Growth in the automotive industry, along with increases in population and gains in worldwide standards of living, has resulted in greater demand for energy sources such as biodiesel fuel. Seeds are regarded as highly effective means for transporting plant pathogens over long distances. Seed deterioration is defined as summation of all physical, physiological, biochemical changes occurring in a seed, which ultimately lead to its death. Jatropha seeds are constantly subjected to deterioration, which implies an irreversible degenerative change in the quality of seeds after it has reached its maximum quality of seeds after it has reached its maximum quality level. The fungi associated with seeds at the harvest stage and under storage bring about several undesirable changes and degradation of seed constituents, thus making the seed unfit for oil extraction, export purpose, consumption or sowing. These storage mycoflora affect the quality of seeds and as well as the diesel extracted by affecting their biochemical and physicochemical properties which is very essential. Biodiesel, an environmental friendly diesel fuel similar to petro-diesel in combustion properties, has received considerable attention in the recent past worldwide. There is therefore, need to explore alternative nonedible oil for use in production of biodiesel. © 2016 by Apple Academic Press, Inc.