Development of Pre-mature Flowering Resistant Tossa Jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) Varieties for Early Sowing with Specific Reference to Study of DNA Profiles

Abstract

Considering the importance of availability of tossa jute (C.olitorius) variety for early sowing (1st week of March) and to suitably fit the crop in jute-paddy cropping system as well as intercropping with mung bean, an effort was made to develop premature flowering resistant variety along with higher fibre yield. A total of four new varieties of such kind were developed and evaluated with popular checks (JRO 524 & JRO 204) under six staggered sowing at 12 days interval starting from 20th February in two consecutive years. Out of four new varieties (viz, NJ 7050, NJ 7055, NJ 7010 and NJ 7005), the first two showed very remarkable level of resistance to pre-mature flowering along with higher fibre yield under very early (20th of February) and early (4th March) sowing. The other two varieties e.g., NJ 7010 (Rani) and NJ 7005 (Raja) had also recorded acceptable level of resistance to pre-mature flowering and higher fibre yield under both early (4th March) and timely (16th March to 9th April) sowing schedule. In addition, the 4th jute variety NJ 7005 (Raja) had also nicely demonstrated its suitability under late sowing schedule too (21st April). In the present paper details of the materials under study along with pedigree, DNA profile and field data have been presented and inferences drawn.