Phenotypic characterization of physic nut populations

This study aimed to identify phenotypic plasticity in populations of Jatropha curcas. The experiment was conducted with a completely randomized design with eleven treatments and four replications. Morphophysiological variables were analyzed in the agricultural year, 2014-2015. Positive correlations were only observed between crown diameter and seed production, and canopy diameter and stomatal density in adaxial epidermis, indicating that canopy diameter can be used as a descriptor in plant breeding programs. Cluster analysis confirmed the existence of diversity among populations of J. curcas, with the formation of two groups, demonstrating the narrow genetic basis of Jatropha found in different regions of Brazil. The analysis of phenotypic plasticity demonstrated that morphological variables had a higher coefficient of plasticity in relation to physiological and productive variables. The morphological and physiological variables can be used in J. curcas breeding programs to study diversity and phenotypic plasticity.   Key words: Biofuel, genetic diversity, Jatropha curcas, oleaginous.