Potential Technological Use of Reserves of Jatropha curcas and J. macrocarpa Griseb. Seeds

Abstract

J. curcas and J. macrocarpa are useful for restoring degraded areas and theirseeds contain oils for biodiesel production. The aim of the work was to determinethe reserve substances in the endosperm and the embryo of J. curcasand J. macrocarpa which is important in understanding the germinationprocess, the establishment of these species and its industrial employment.Seeds were imbibed in distilled water for 24 h, to facilitate removal of seedcoat with the aim to separate the embryo and nutritive tissues. In both species,the endosperm contained aleurone grains consisting of a crystalloid andgloboid, lipids of red color and the starch was not observed. Four major fattyacids were determined in J. curcas seed: oleic, palmitic, stearic, palmitoleicand oleic fatty acid represents about 70% oil content. Oleic acid was the mostabundant in J. macrocarpa seeds, while, there was not palmitoleic acid. Seedwith predominantly unsaturated fatty acids is ideal for biodiesel industry. Themeans of the sugar content were: 14.3 μg/mg in endosperm and 104.76 μg/mgin embryo of J. curcas and 6.48 μg/mg in endosperm and 59.20 μg/mg inembryo of J. macrocarpa. The means of the protein content were: 4.2 μg/mgin endosperm and 45.02 μg/mg in embryo of J. curcas and 3.26 μg/mg in endospermand 31.08 μg/mg in embryo of J. macrocarpa. Sugar and proteincontents of Jatropha seeds were significantly higher in embryo in both species(p < 0.1), which suggests early mobilization towards the embryo during imbibitionperiod.