Salinity in Jatropha curcas: A Review of Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Factors Involved

Abstract

Jatropha curcas is a woody-shrub species of the Euphorbiaceae family that is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. The great interest in its cultivation lies in the potential for achieving elevated yields of a high-quality oil. Another characteristic that makes J. curcas promising is its ability to produce green energy even in high-salinity soils. For a commercial cultivation to be considered effectively competent to withstand these conditions, it must produce enough to offset production costs. There is no doubt that J. curcas is considered promising, but numerous pilot projects for the commercial planting of J. curcas have failed worldwide, mainly due to a lack of reliable scientific knowledge about the species, its food security, and (mainly) its instability in commercial fruit production. The main goal of this review was to compile published results on tolerance/resistance or sensitivity to salt stress in J. curcas. Updating the knowledge on this theme may allow for researchers to trace strategies for future studies of stress physiology in this promising oil seed species.