title: Molecular characterization and genetic diversity ofJatropha curcasL. in Costa Rica.
abstract: We estimated the genetic diversity of 50Jatropha curcassamples from the Costa Rican germplasm bank using 18 EST-SSR, one G-SSR and nrDNA-ITS markers. We also evaluated the phylogenetic relationships among samples using nuclear ribosomal ITS markers. Non-toxicity was evaluated using G-SSRs and SCARs markers. A Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree and a Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree were constructed using SSR markers and ITS sequences, respectively. Heterozygosity was moderate (He = 0.346), but considerable compared to worldwide values forJ. curcas. The PIC (PIC = 0.274) and inbreeding coefficient (f=  - 0.102) were both low. Clustering was not related to the geographical origin of accessions. International accessions clustered independently of collection sites, suggesting a lack of genetic structure, probably due to the wide distribution of this crop and ample gene flow. Molecular markers identified only one non-toxic accession (JCCR-24) from Mexico. This work is part of a countrywide effort to characterize the genetic diversity of theJatropha curcasgermplasm bank in Costa Rica.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad de Costa Rica , San Pedro , San José , Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vásquez-Mayorga
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica , San Pedro , San José , Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad de Costa Rica , San Pedro , San José , Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Eduardo J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Estación Experimental Fabio Baudrit Moreno, Universidad de Costa Rica , Alajuela , Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería , San José , Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Biología, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica , Cartago , Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Biología, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica , Cartago , Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arnáez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica; Escuela de Tecnología de Alimentos, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica; Centro Nacional en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Natalia M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Barboza
keywords: EST-SSR; Genetic diversity; Jatropha curcas; SCARs markers; nrDNA-ITS region