Jatropha curcas is a perennial oleaginous plant whose seed oil is used in the manufacture of biodiesel and soap. Despite its many potentialities, it remains under exploited in Burkina Faso. The objective of this study is to determine the level of genetic diversity and estimate genetic parameters of the collection in order to contribute to the valorization of plant. Thus, the fruits of 50 accessions of an experimental field located at Gampèla in station of the Institute of Rural Development were collected and evaluated using ten characters which relate to measurements and weight of fruits and seeds and one trait about the oil content of seeds. Results revealed a significant variability of all characters. Seed weight and oil content showed an important variation than the others characters with average values ranging respectively from 36.9 g to 71.16 g and 49.24% to 72.9%. Accessions S7, S14, S15, S26 and H16 showed the highest weight of 100 seeds while accessions H4, H6, H10, N2 and N107 showed the highest oil content. Characters oil content and weight of 100 seeds showed high broad sense heritability and high expected genetic advance indicating additive effects of genes and an opportunity for improvement of these traits through selection.
The results of this study could be used in Jatropha curcas breeding programs in Burkina Faso.

Jatropha curcas, genetic diversity, selection