Genomics and Genetics of Drought and Salt Tolerance in Jute

Abstract

AbstractThere are about 100 species of genus Corchorus, however, only two have been cultivated; Corchorus capsularis L. (white jute) and C. olitorius L. (Tossa jute). Salt and drought stresses are among the global catastrophes facing humanity nowadays; it is a significant threat to agriculture. Although jute can be grown on saline soil, the production is negatively affected under drought and saline conditions. Moreover, molecular mechanisms and biotechnology aspects concerning salt and drought tolerance in jute are scarce. Therefore, molecular-based breeding and exploring new genomics approaches to develop tolerant cultivars are needed. Some quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and genes associated with salt and drought tolerance were identified. In addition, the latest development of phenotypic analysis and genomic tools has opened up a new prospect for the research on salt and drought tolerance of jute. In this chapter, we presented genetics and genomics approaches as well as their integration with classical breeding methods to improve salt and drought tolerance in jute. Some breeding challenges, mechanisms as well as molecular markers for salt and drought tolerance in jute are described. Application of bi-parental mapping to dissect salt and drought tolerance in jute, transcriptomic, and future perspective to enhance salt and drought tolerance in jute, are also highlighted.KeywordsQuantitative trait lociPhenotypic variation explainedAbscisic acidProtein phosphatase 2CDifferentially Expressed Genes