Jatropha is a prolific plant that grows widely in tropical and subtropical zones. Jatropha seeds are non-edible but have quite high oil content. Cultivation of jatropha is possible on dry and poor soils. Recently jatropha is more and more regarded as one of the most promising plants that can provide the next generation biodiesel fuels. The seeds of jatropha have some 30 % of oil content, and one hectare of jatropha plantation can yield as much as 1.5 ton of oil a year, which is not comparable to that of oil-palm that can yield 4 ton of palm oil per hectare a year, but it is much higher than those of soybeans, castor bean and sunflower that are traditional major food oil plants.

The productivity of an oil plant is measured by its efficiency of photosynthesis and adaptability and/or resistance to environmental stresses such as draught. Today, a range of gene technology has been developed to breed in molecule level, and/or to operate a gene-conversion to enhance the productivity of jatropha. Recently, practicable fruits of gene technology that would dramatically enhance the productivity of jatropha have been published one after another.

Recently a joint research group of Kazusa DNA Research Institute (KDRI) and Osaka University has disclosed that they have completed whole genome analysis of jatropha by May 2010. This is a big step forward to realize a high-yield gene-converted jatropha.

Meanwhile, the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) so far has conducted a research in order to improve the productivity of jatropha, aiming at increasing oil content and also enhance ability to cope with environmental stresses. In May 2010, NAIST research team succeeded in enhancing, by 30 times, the probability of appearance of improved heritable nature, which is the highest in the world.

Experimental cultivation of jatropha has been started in Japan recently. On 17 May 2010, the Narita International Airport Corporation announced that they would start an experimental cultivation, by planting some 60 trees of jatropha and aburagina on unused lands of 500 m² in and outside of the Narita Airport until July 2010. By the way, so far it has been said that jatropha could not survive in a cool region. The company is investigating the possibility of utilizing the jatropha oil as a fuel for their aircraft tractors and aircraft jet engines, in future.

Table  Oil Productivity of Typical Oil Crops

 
Fig.  Oil Content of Typical Oil Crops

 
Fig.  Oil Productivity of Typical Oil Crops

Sources:
1) “Development of New Oil Crops – Prospect of Jatropha – Reality and Problems” Energy Economy Vol.35 No.3 p100, 2) The Chiba Nippo, 3) The Nikkei Business et al