First Successful Hybrid between the Two Jute-yielding Species, Corchorus olitorius L. (Tossa) × C. capsularis L. (White)

Abstract

ALTHOUGH numerous attempts had been made in the past to cross the two jute-yielding species, namely, C. olitorius, and C. capsularis, no success was achieved¹. The recent report by Ganesan et al. ² that following hybridization between the two species a few-celled embryo and few free endosperm nuclei are formed encouraged us to repeat the above crosses. The failure to obtain hybrid seedlings has been attributed by these authors to the degeneration of embryo and endosperm at an early stage of their development. An attempt was therefore made to induce the full development of the embryo and endosperm by the use of hormones. Following pollination, therefore, the pedicels of the flowers were wrapped with cotton which had been previously soaked in 300 p.p.m. 3-indole acetic acid. It was observed that the application of hormone increased the fruit set in the crosses and the seeds obtained therein appeared more developed than in fruits without hormone treatment. Of the 365 seeds obtained from 15 fruits in 115 crosses between C. oluorius (♀) and C. capsularis (♂), only 7 germinated, and of these only 3 grew to adult plants. No hybrid was obtained in the reciprocal cross.