GENETIC VARIATION IN A JATROPHA CURCAS JATROPHA INTEGERRIMA HYBRID

A viable hybrid was produced by an interspecific Jatropha curcas x Jatropha integerrima cross. Artificial cross pollination was used, with J. integerrima being the pollen donor for J. curcas. Hybrid fruit resulted. Seeds from this fruit were germinated in vitro to produce seedlings as a source of leaf explants for genomic DNA extraction and purification. Molecular markers (ISSR and DAMD) were used to confirm hybridization success and characterize the combination of parental characteristics in the hybrid. Based on the band pattern, this interspecific cross resulted in genetic variation in the hybrids DNA, since 15% of its DNA content exhibited no similarity to either parent genome. Of the remaining DNA content, 35% was similar to the female parent (J. curcas), 25% to the male parent (J. integerrima), and 25% was a combination of both parents.