The Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding

Interspecific hybridization in any crop has added advantages over Intraspecific cross In most of the cases. To widen genetic base, interspecific hybridization becomes essential to Improve species by transferring the desirable characters. An attempt has been made in the present investigation to obtain interspecific hybrid using mutant capsularis female parent with a cultivated variety JRO-524 C. oitorious. The mutant derived from the X-ray Irradiation of JRC-212 at 400 Gy having 3.56% lignin in fibre with trailing nature. On the other hand JRO-524 is most popular variety. The hybrid showed Intermediate values between parents for plant height, fibre weight, stick weight and fibre percentage. It also showed intermediate bending pattern In stem like female parent. The interspecific cross CMU-011 x JRO-524 has low lignin and high cellulose contents than the cultivated C. olitorious var. JRO-524. The Interspecific cross has better fibre fineness but lower strength value than JRO-524. They possess identical mono-morphlc gene loci for peroxidase enzyme system. The anatomy of the hybrid stem Is more or less like that of capsularls mutants with no periderm formation, distinct epidermis and prominent cortex. Regular fibre bundles forming pyramids are constituted by a few fibre cells, but the cell number per bundles is less than In JRO-524. Less cell number per bundle may be one of the parameters for selection of quality fibre containing low lignin. They have few crystals and tannin cells, but have large mucilage canals and cavities. In case of CMU-Q11 x JRO-524, length at outer region ranges from 90.9 to 106.05 Il and breadth from 45.45 to 60.6 μ at middle portion length is 30.3–60.6 μ and breadth Is 30.3–45.45 μ and at inner portion length Is 15.15–60.6 μ and while breadth is 22.73–60.6 μ. Hence, the selection in advanced generation of this interspecific cross is likely to be successful in identifying with quality fibres plants suitable for use In textile industries for blending the jute fibre with cotton as well as other natural fibres.