Inheritance of photoperiod sensitivity in jute (Corchorus olitorius L.)

Abstract

Seeds of two parents (German - a photoperiod insensitive mutant and JRO 7835 - a photoperiod sensitive variety), F1, F2, F3, BC1 and BC2 were sown in the field in natural condition on the 15th of both February and May (short and long day period respectively). The mutant and F1 hybrids flowered after a fixed period of 35 and 67 days respectively irrespective of sowing time whereas the other parent (JRO-7835) being photoperiod sensitive flowered after 42 and 104 days for sowing in February and May respectively. The F2 population showed three. !,iistinct groups with respect to flowering habit in the ratio of 1:2:1. (mutant: 2F1 : JRO 7835). The backross population exhibited segregation in 1:1 ratio. F3 population had three groups and out of that two were true breeding and the rest group segregated in 1:2:1 ratio for sowing in both February and May. The segregation patterns showed that photo-period sensitivity is a simple monogenic trait (PPS) and it is incompletely dominant over photoperiod insensitivity (pps).