Germplasm diversity and estimate of genetic advance of four morpho-physiological traits in a world collection of jute

To improve jute productivity, locating of sources of suitable quantitative-trait genes in the recently acquired world jute collection was needed. Two hundred sixteen accessions of Corchorus capsularis and 192 accessions of C. olitorius were evaluated at a jute seed research station (87 degrees 60'E, 23 degrees 80'N) for four yield and quality linked morpho-physiological traits. The objectives were to estimate the germplasm diversity, phenotypic (PCV) and genetic (GCV) coefficients of variation, broad sense heritability (h(2)) and genetic advance (GA) with respect to origins and traits. Irrespective of origins all the traits showed more than 60-80% diversity in both species. Trait means of diversity were significant but not the origin means. Generally, only slightly higher PCV values than GCV were obtained for all the traits in both the species. High h(2) values ranging from 50% to more than 98% were also found. All the traits can be simultaneously utilized for genetic gain. Most of the C. olitorius accessions with two times higher GA estimates than those of the C. capsularis are likely to be more successful for that matter. Maximum genetic gain is expected from Mutants > China > Brazil > India > Thailand > Nepal > Burma in C. capsularis while from Thailand > Tanzania > Mutants > Kenya > Other countries in C. olitorius. C. capsularis mutants with high heterogenity for most of the traits should be useful for finding many rare alleles.