Role of induced mutation on the utilization of residual heterosis in jute (Corchorus olitorius L.)

Eight established macromutants and a standard cultivated variety JRO-632 were used in a nine parent diallel cross, without reciprocals in olitorius jute. Five crosses, selected for showing residual heterosis in F₂, had consistentiy significant specific combining ability effects in F₁ and F₂ generations. These crosses were Long narrow leaf x Ribbon leaf for plant height, Long narrow leaf x Palmate leaf for leaf length, Long narrow leaf x Crumpled leaf for vertical separation of leaves; and two other crosses, Crumpled leaf x Stiff stem and Palmate leaf x Stiff stem for fibre yield. These crosses are likely to yield transgressive segregates which could be utilized for the development of superior pureline varieties. The first three crosses mentioned above also produced fibre yield almost at par with the standard variety, JRO-632.