Cluster analysis of Corchorus capsularis jute based on agro-morphological characters to isolate high-yielding genotypes for breeding purposes

Abstract

White jute (Corchorus capsularis) is an important bast fiber producing cash crop. Its narrow genetic base due to its self-pollination nature as well as genetic incompatibility in respect of interspecific hybridization cause low morphological variability. The searching for good genotypes and their use in intraspecific hybridization is the best option to increase the yield potentiality of this crop. In this research experiment, 95 white jute genotypes including 93 accessions and two pre-released varieties (CVL-1 and BJRI Deshi Pat 9) were investigated for higher fibre yield. The experiment was laid out in an augmented design at Jute Agricultural Experiment Station, Manikgonj during 2019. Plants were harvested at 120 days age and morphological data like plant height (m), base diameter (mm), green weight with leaves (g plant-1), fiber yield (g plant-1) and stick yield (g plant-1) were recorded carefully. From the descriptive analyses of the recorded data, good fibre yields were found in A-725 (20 g plant-1) and A-2232 (16.60 g plant-1) followed by A-2224, A-248, A-07, A-675, A-2264, A-1292, A-247, A-469, A-2226, A-674, A-02, A-232, A-10, A-684 than the control varieties BJRI Deshi Pat-9 (10.80 g plant-1) and CVL-1 (9.20 g plant-1). From the hierarchical cluster analysis, the average inter-cluster distances were found higher than the average intra-cluster distances, which shows the presence of wide genetic diversity among the genotypes of different clusters than those of the same cluster. These higher fibre yielding accessions with wide genetic diversity would be used as breeding materials for varietal improvement through hybridization and selection approaches.