Production of elite plant material of Jatropha curcas

Jatropha curcas is a perennial shrub of the Euphorbiaceae family native from Mexico and Central America but is now found abundantly in many tropical and subtropical regions throughout Africa and Asia. The traditional use of this plant is as old as the Mayan culture. It has been reported that J. curcas was most likely distributed by Portuguese ships via the Cape Verde Islands and Guinea Bissau to other countries in Africa and Asia.