Phytochemical Evaluation and Molecular Characterization of Some Jatropha Species Grown In Nigeria
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Jatropha is a widely recognized medicinal and economic plant in Nigeria, yet studies on its phytochemical composition and genetic diversity across Nigerian landraces remain limited. This study aimed to characterize 40 Jatropha landraces collected from 25 Nigerian states using both phytochemical profiling and molecular markers. Six representative samples, one from each geopolitical zone, were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing a total of 122 phytochemicals. The composition varied by location, with linoelaidic acid notably abundant in northern accessions. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that landraces from Borno, Lagos, Nassarawa, and Enugu contributed most to the observed phytochemical variation. Molecular characterization was conducted using the rbcL gene, with DNA polymorphism analysis identifying 685 mutations and 39 haplotypes, indicating high genetic variability (haplotype diversity: 0.999). Phylogenetic analysis grouped the landraces into distinct clusters, though not strictly by geographic origin. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) revealed 99% variation within populations and only 1% among populations. These findings highlight significant phytochemical and genetic diversity within Nigerian Jatropha landraces, providing valuable resources for breeding programs and conservation efforts.
