Bast Fibre Yield Research Articles

Origins of white (Corchorus capsularis L.) and dark (C. olitorius L.) jute: a reevaluation based on nuclear and chloroplast microsatellites

Using a suite of morphological traits and neutral molecular markers, we have reevaluated the origins of the two cultivated jute species. The nine Corchorus species, which are restricted to both Africa and Asia, were phenotyped for bast fibre yield- and quality-linked traits, morpho-phenetically classified based on those traits’ similarities, genotyped by nuclear microsatellites and haplotyped by chloroplast microsatellites. The two cultivated jute species contain ~70% of the neutral genetic diversity present in their wild relatives. Phylogenetic analyses using 38 highly polymorphic nuclear microsatellites identified C. aestuans as the common ancestor to both the cultivated jute species. C. urticifolius is the nuclear progenitor of C. olitorius (dark jute), but no close nuclear progenitor of C. capsularis (white jute) could be identified. Although either C. aestuans or C. pseudo-olitorius or both appear to be the possible cytoplasmic progenitors of white jute, the matrilineal ancestry of dark jute remains obscure. However, the presence of a single, unique chloroplast haplotype in each of the two cultivated species indicates the involvement of other unknown wild relatives. Taken together with archaeobotanical evidence, our results suggest that dark jute had its origin in equatorial region of east Africa, but was domesticated in India. We could not support an Indo-Myanmar origin of white jute, and possibly it also originated in Africa, but was domesticated in Asia.

A secondary phloic (bast) fibre-shy (bfs) mutant of dark jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) develops lignified fibre cells but is defective in cambial activity

Bast fibre development in jute (Corchorus spp.) is a complex process that involves the differentiation of secondary phloic fibres (SPF) from the cambium followed by lignification of the fibre wall. We have identified a unique radiation-induced bast fibre-shy mutant of dark jute (C. olitorius L.), which is concurrently defective in the differentiation of SPF and secondary xylem (wood) but develops lignified fibre cells. It displays the most unusual phenotype with stunted growth and abnormal leaf shape, matures earlier, yields significantly less bast fibres and wood, and produces poorer quality fibres than its parental wild-type. Cambial activities in the mutant and the normal type were monitored by estimating the fibre content that entails the total number of fibre cell bundles (FCBs) in an entire transversal section. The results show that a multi-fold reduction of bast fibre yield in the mutant is related to development-specific loss of cambium function along the length of the stem from to top to bottom. Since lignification of the fibre wall in the mutant is not only normal but also developmentally uniform, cambium function may be unrelated to the lignification process during bast fibre development. Lignin does not influence bast fibre strength and fineness. The architecture of the mostly triangular FCB wedges, which is governed by a balanced growth between radially elongating FCBs and tangentially expanding ray cells due to development-specific activation of the fusiform and ray initials of the cambium, conditions fibre fineness. Our study shows that mutation could specifically impair the cambial activity by rendering those initials that differentiate the SPF and secondary xylem nonfunctional.

Growth, yield and fiber morphology of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) grown on sandy bris soil as influenced by different levels of carbon

The effects of carbon levels on plant growth, yield and fiber morphological properties are not available for kenaf that is considered as a potential source of low cost natural fiber and feedstock for energy production as well. A pot-culture experiment was conducted in shade house to determine the effects of carbon levels on plant growth, yield and fiber morphology of different kenaf varieties. The plants of five kenaf varieties were grown in pots containing sandy beach ridges interspersed with swales (BRIS) soil. Organic carbons at the levels of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 t ha -1 were applied to pots using organic fertilizer. At harvest, stem diameter, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, plant components biomass, bast and core fiber yield and fiber dimensional properties were determined. Maximum growth, dry matter and fiber yield, and morphological characters were achieved at the carbon levels 20 t ha -1 but the values of these parameters decreased with additional increase in carbon levels. Among the varieties, HC2 had the highest plant height, leaf biomass, total dry matter and fiber yield. The longest bast fiber was observed in variety HC2. The variety G4 showed the widest fiber and higher lumen width among others. The bast fibers of all the kenaf verities were longer than core fiber. The core fiber was wider and higher in lumen width than the bast fiber. The above results keep a significant role and would be useful to select better varieties of kenaf for the purpose of making quality paper and paper products and to grow kenaf on BRIS soil with adequate yield and fibre quality using better management of organic carbon. Key words: Kenaf varieties, carbon levels, growth, yield, fiber morphology, beach ridges interspersed with swales (BRIS) soil.

Population density and row spacing effects on dry matter yield and bark content of kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

Efforts to bring kenaf from experimental crop status to an accepted alternative in established cropping systems have been ongoing for years. To compete with existing crops and maximize monetary returns, the effects of agronomic practices on yield and crop quality must be better understood. Row spacing and population density are implicated in dry matter yield, and therefore, bast fiber production. Four row spacings, four population densities, and two cultivars were examined to determine these effects on dry matter accumulation and bark content. Of all factors evaluated, only row spacing significantly affected dry matter yield. Yield was greatest at the 35.5-cm row spacing, and lowest at the 71- and 101.6-cm row spacings. With regard to bast yield, calculated as a percentage of total sample dry weight, a significant cultivar × row spacing interaction occurred. However, data indicate that manipulating row spacing to maximize total stalk yield per hectare resulted in the highest bast fiber yield for the two cultivars tested. The narrowest row spacing of 35.5 cm, gave the greatest biomass yield as well as the highest bark yield per hectare.

Bast fibre content, fibre yield and fibre quality of different linseed genotypes

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) grown for seed does not compete well with flax in fibre yield, but as a by-product of seed production its stems could be used in non-woven products. With the aim of discovering suitable linseed genotypes to be cultivated for dual-purpose use in Finland, Finnish linseed cv. Helmi was compared with ten other linseed genotypes and one flax cultivar for stem yield, bast fibre content in stem, stem length and diameter and bast fibre yield. In addition, breaking tenacity and elongation at break of the fibres were determined. The experiments were carried out in 1996B1997 at the Agricultural Research Centre (MTT) in Jokioinen, Finland (latitude 60o49'N). Bast fibre content in stem averaged 16.9% and breeding line Bor 18 had significantly higher bast fibre content than cv. Helmi. Bast fibre yield averaged 301 kg dry matter ha-1. Compared with cv. Helmi, breeding lines Bor 15 and Bor 18 and cvs. Flanders and Gold Merchant produced significantly higher fibre yield. The median for breaking tenacity varied among the genotypes between 41 and 67 cN/tex and the median for elongation at break between 3.5 and 6.8%. Finnish breeding line Bor 18 is recommended for cultivation as dual-purpose linseed in Finland. ;

Comparison of bast fibre yield and mechanical fibre properties of hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) cultivars

High stem yield and high bast fibre content in stem are generally accepted as important properties for fibre hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) Quality demands for fibre used in the new non-woven products have not yet been defined. The Ukrainian monoecious fibre hemp cv. Uso 11 was compared with 13 other fibre hemp cultivars in 1995–1997 in Finland (latitude 60°49′ N). Stem yield, stem length, stem diameter, bast fibre content in stem, bast fibre yield, proportion of primary fibre in the bast fibre and primary fibre yield are reported, as well as breaking tenacity and elongation at break of the fibres. The average stem yield of cv. Uso 11 was 5947 kg dry matter ha −1 and only dioecious cvs. Kompolti Hybrid TC and Novosadski produced significantly higher yields. The bast fibre content in the stem of cv. Uso 11 averaged 21.7%, and four other cultivars, both mono- and dioecious ones, had significantly higher content. The proportion of primary fibre in the bast fibre of cv. Uso 11 averaged 91.0%, and cultivars with significantly lower primary fibre fraction were all dioecious. The average bast fibre and primary fibre yields of cv. Uso 11 were 1301 and 1188 kg dry matter ha −1, respectively. Only cv. Kompolti Hybrid TC produced significantly higher bast fibre and primary fibre yields. The median values for breaking tenacity and elongation at break of the fibres varied, depending on experimental year and cultivar, from 41 to 74 cN/tex and from 3.3 to 5.5%, respectively. The dioecious cultivars showed better or equivalent properties to cv. Uso 11. Because the season was too short for seed production, which is a prerequisite for obtaining the EU subsidy, dioecious hemp cultivars cannot be recommended for cultivation in Finland. However, monoecious Ukrainian cvs. Uso 11 and Uso 31 and Polish cvs. Beniko and Bialobrzeskie are suitable for the long-day growth conditions prevailing in Finland.