Varietal development of jute and allied fibres in India

Abstract

Jute is considered the golden fibre of India. India ranks first in jute area and production covering 0.94 mha and producing nearly 11.27 million bales. Concerted effots in genetic improvement of these fibre crops have resulted in development of 16 varieties in Corchorus capsularis, 15 varieties in Corchorus olitorius, 12 varieties in mesta and 2 varieties in sunnhemp. Through intensive breeding efforts, crop duration has been reduced from 180-200 days to 120-130 days to 120-130 days in jute, with concomitant increase in fibre yield and fibre quality. The jute varieties ‘JRO 524’ and ‘JRC 321’ and mesta variety ‘HC 583’ gained maximum popularity among the farmers.