The present publication is the 4th issue of the APN Science Bulletin series to be published in the APN's Third 5-year Strategic Phase, which runs until March 2015. Issue 4 ( 2014) is a peer-reviewed publication that has become a main source, next to the APN website, for up-to-the-minute information on activities undertaken by the APN. As a landmark publication written by the global environmental community and supported by the APN, the bulletin focuses on issues of underpinning science that are policy-relevant. The 2014 Science Bulletin aims to satisfy readers in both the science and non-science communities who have a keen interest in Global Environmental Change in the Asia-Pacific region.

Due to its high oil yield per hectare and ability to grow in a wide range of environments, Jatropha curcas L. is on top of the promising potential crops as biofuel feedstock. However, its full potential is yet to be realized due to lack of systematic improvement/breeding programs aimed at increasing oil yield. Improvement programs require knowledge on variability and genetic parameters. Thus, this study determined the extent of variation and relationship between seed traits of the different provenances, namely, South Cotabato, Bacolod and Talisay. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no considerable difference between provenances in seed length and breadth at P 5 0.05. Seeds from South Cotabato were found to be significantly thicker than the other two provenances. Heritability estimates obtained for all the seed traits were high (480%). High genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) indicate that traits are less amenable to changes due to environmental flux. Seed thickness had the highest heritability and GCV (721.3%). In general, variation among the provenances of the seed traits studied is low, which indicates narrow genetic resource of J. curcas in the country. Unproductive breeding is expected unless there is an introduction of material from other sources, especially from the center of origin of the plant.