Agronomical and chemical traits as descriptors for discrimination and selection of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) clones

LORENA TOBARES,; MARIO FRATI,; ALBERTO GUZMAN, CARLOS; DAMIAN MODESTO MAESTRI

Industrial Crops And Products

Elsevier

Año: 2004 vol. 19 p. 107 - 111

In Argentina, the commercial production of jojoba seed and wax is an important economic activity. For this reason, selection programs that improve the productivity of the genotypes and the quality of their waxes are highly desirable. This work examines some agronomical and chemical traits as descriptors for discrimination and selection of jojoba clones. The field trial was carried out at Bañado de los Pantanos (La Rioja Province, Argentina). Promising individual plants were selected, vegetatively propagated and planted. The criteria for selection included: plant habit, consistence in production and seed yield. Seed waxes were analyzed for acidity, peroxide and saponification values, and for fatty acids and fatty alcohols compositions. Significant differences were found in most of the parameters evaluated. Intraspecific variations in the concentrations of fatty acids and alcohols were smaller than differences in agronomical characters. No significant correlations were observed between agronomical and chemical parameters. Seed weight and yield, and seed wax content data were used to make a selection index (SI). The results obtained in this work indicate that there is a large genetic variability among jojoba clones established at Aimogasta which could permit improvement by selection and breeding.