The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Baill, subsidizing future breeding and genetic conservation programs. Twenty matrices of the species and the fruits collected in the Caatinga area in the city of Jequié - BA / Brazil were selected. For morphological description, the features of 50 fruits and 50 seeds were observed. For germination, completely randomized design was used with 20 treatments (progeny) and three replicates of 20 seeds. J. ribifolia fruit is dry and has loculicidal and septicidal capsule, woody endocarp and explosive dehiscence (autochory). The seed is oval, endospermic and has smooth testa and different colors, with caruncle attached to the ventral part. The hilum is visible and the raphe is longitudinally marked. Germination is hypogeal-cryptocotylar. The average time for germination was from 10 to 40 days. The matrices of J. ribifolia showed significant genetic variability for most of the studied traits.
medicinal plants; semi-arid; germplasm; traits
