Abstract: This paper focused on the relationship of morphological characters , crude fat content of Jatropha curcas seed with environmental factors from two areas in Yunnan . The research demonstrated that seed maturity and dispersal in humid and hot Jinghong area were shorter than that in dry and hot Yuanmou area , and the criterion of seed morphological characters from Jinghong was also better than that from Yuanmou ( P < 0 . 01) . Soil organic matter content was the most important soil factor which made positive effects to seed crude fat accumulation while drought stress was one of the most important climatic
factors restricting the seed crude fat accumulation . Seed from Jinghong contained higher crude fat content, moisture content and lower ratio of crude fat content and moisture content ( P < 0 .01) than seed from Yuanmou . High ratio of crude fat content and moisture content in the seed from dry area could be one of the adaptive mechanism of J. curcas to drought stress which made an important ecological significance to species adaption .

Key words: Jatropha curcas