AUTHOR=Gangwar Manali , Shankar Jata 

TITLE=Molecular Mechanisms of the Floral Biology of Jatropha curcas: Opportunities and Challenges as an Energy Crop

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.00609

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2020.00609

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Fossil fuel sources are a limited resource and could eventually be depleted. Biofuels have emerged as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. <italic>Jatropha</italic> has grown in significance as a potential bioenergy crop due to its high content of seed oil. However, <italic>Jatropha</italic>’s lack of high-yielding seed genotypes limits its potential use for biofuel production. The main cause of lower seed yield is the low female to male flower ratio (1:25–10), which affects the total amount of seeds produced per plant. Here, we review the genetic factors responsible for floral transitions, floral organ development, and regulated gene products in <italic>Jatropha</italic>. We also summarize potential gene targets to increase seed production and discuss challenges ahead.</p>