Caracterización morfológica de seis genotipos de Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) en la granja Andil.

The species Jatropha curcas L. is distinguished by its rapid growth and adaptability to degraded and dry soils. This research, conducted at the Andil experimental farm of the Southern State University of Manabí, aimed to gather information on the morphological characteristics of six selected genotypes, including four hybrids and two clones of Jatropha curcas. A total of 576 plants were planted in 24 subplots, with four plots assigned to each genotype. Over a period of 23 months, variables such as height, stem diameter, and number of branches were measured on eight selected plants per subplot. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and interpolation was performed for periods not studied. The hybrid JAT 001100 stood out with an average height of 197,72 cm and a range of 199,44 cm, followed by JAT 001103 with 193,9 cm. Stem diameter showed no significant differences, ranging between 7 cm and 6,5 cm. Hybrids JAT 001100, JAT 001103, and JAT 001165 exhibited a higher number of branches (average of 8 to 8,1). Overall, commercial hybrids outperformed local clones in growth and development. These findings contribute to the understanding of Jatropha curcas and may be useful for genotype selection in genetic improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]