Morpho-phenetical study of high yielding tossa jute variety BJRI Tossa Pat 7 (MG-1) for bast fibre yield and qualities.

Background and Aim of the Study: Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) is a natural fibre crop produces good quality fiber having great demand for industrial uses. High yielding tossa jute variety is very important in Bangladesh.
Materials and Methods: Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) has developed a new tossa jute variety (BJRI Tossa Pat 7) through pure line selection (PLS) from another pre-released variety named OM-1 during 2017. The new variety was evaluated for fiber yield and attributing phonological traits through comparing with another pre-released variety named BJRI Tossa Pat 5 (O-795) in RCB design at six locations during 2015-2018.
Results: Distinct morphological traits i.e. ovate lanceolate glossy leaves; full green plant were found in MG-1 and stem & stipule red; ovate lanceolate leaves in O-795. MG-1 showed higher fiber yield (3.39-3.40 t ha ^-1 ) where, O-795 showed 3.10-3.22 t ha ^-1 as means of their maximum performances for three years at both farmers' plots and research fields. MG-1 gave higher plant height, base diameter, fiber yield than O-795 at both research stations and farmers' fields. Even after sowing at 10-15 March, MG-1 gave late flowering; lower leaf size, leaf angle, green leaf biomass and node number; maximum inter-nodal length, bark diameter, bark thickness and fiber bundle cells; and finally golden bright quality fiber than O-795. If both varieties were sown at 2 ^nd to 3 ^rd week of March, and harvested at 110 days old, MG-1 gave 5-7% higher fiber yield than O-795.
Conclusion: Undoubtedly, MG-1 is a good tossa jute variety for its fiber yield and quality than pre-released varieties.
Recommendation: MG-1 having good fiber yield would be used for commercial cultivation by the farmers to contribute to the national economy.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
(© 2021 Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Dhaka, Bangladesh.)