Jatropha, Challenges for a New Energy Crop

Jatropha, Challenges for a New Energy Crop, Volume 1 reports on the state of the art of scientific investigations on the new crop Jatropha curcas made during the past decade. The progresses obtained on the knowledge of this abstemious, semi-wild species are already impressive and were mainly achieved in just a decade (2001- 2011). This knowledge extends from basic Jatropha physiology and biological reproduction to the basic agronomic practices and systems for its productive management, but also the complete set of biotechnological tools, such as in vitro culture, genetic transformation, genomic sequence, genetic map, and markers assisted selection that are necessary for its selective breeding. These scientific and technological achievements paved the way for the future technological management and domestication of Jatropha as an industrial oilseed crop able to contribute to the feeding of the transport system.

The two book series on Jatropha is the first comprehensive compilation by global experts. It is an essential text in view of the importance that Jatropha demonstrated worldwide by its large scale cultivation and emerging value for energy business as a biofuel. This first volume is presented in five units comprising 30 chapters covering the main aspects of the worldwide economic importance of Jatropha as well as its physiology, farming, oil processing, by-products, biodiesel, and biofuel combustion. Volume 1 provides a comprehensive picture on the whole productive chain of Jatropha and helps the reader to make a mental representation concerning the potential of Jatropha as a crop.