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Jute (Corchorus sp.) is naturally occurring, biodegradable, lignocellulosic-long, silky, golden shiny fiber producing plant that has great demands globally. Paper and textile industries are interested in jute because of the easy availability, non-toxicity and high yield of cellulosic biomass produced per acre in cultivation. Jute is the major and most industrially used bast fiber-producing crop in the world and it needs protection from insect pest infestation that decreases its yield and quality. Single locus integration of the synthetically fused cry1Ab/Ac gene of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in Corchorus capsularis (JRC 321) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated shoot tip transformation provided 5 potent Bt jute lines BT1, BT2, BT4, BT7 and BT8. These lines consistently expressed the Cry1Ab/Ac endotoxin ranging from 0.16 to 0.35 ng/mg of leaf, in the following generations (analyzed upto T4). The effect of Cry1Ab/Ac endotoxin was studied against 3 major Lepidopteran pests of jute- semilooper (Anomis sabulifera Guenee), hairy caterpillar (Spilarctia obliqua Walker) and indigo caterpillar (Spodoptera exigua Hubner) by detached leaf and whole plant insect bioassay on greenhouse-grown transgenic plants. Results confirm that larvae feeding on transgenic plants had lower food consumption, body size, body weight and dry weight of excreta compared to non-transgenic controls. Insect mortality range among transgenic feeders was 66–100% for semilooper and hairy caterpillar and 87.50% for indigo caterpillar. Apart from insect resistance, the transgenic plants were at par with control plants in terms of agronomic parameters and fiber quality. Hence, these Bt jutes in the field would survive Lepidopteran pest infestation, minimize harmful pesticide usage and yield good quality fiber.

Abstract:In the present study efforts were made to explore the efficacy of various plant extracts and oil cakes against Macrophomina phaseolina. The efficacy of eight different plant species, Zingiber officianale, Aloe indica, Lawsonia inermis, Chenopodium album, Allium cepa, Piper betel, Murraya koenigii, Parthenium hysterophorus aqueous extracts including oil cakes of mustard and neem were evaluated by using of poisoned food technique in vitro for their inhibitory effect on mycelial growth of M. phaseolina causing stem rot of jute (Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis). The rhizome extract of Z. officinale produced maximum growth inhibition (74.59%) of the pathogen followed by leaf extracts of A. indica (63.57%), and leaf extract of L. inermis (60.17%) at the concentration of 10%. The maximum mycelial growth inhibition (52.40%) was recorded with neem cake (Azadirachta indica) at the concentrations of 20% followed by 42.61% and 29.60% with concentration of 15% and 10%, respectively. However, maximum mycelial growth inhibition (19.42%) was recorded with mustard cake (Brassica juncea) at the concentration of 20% followed by 16.64% and 12.20% at the concentration of 15% and 10% respectively. In general mycelial growth inhibition was dose dependent and it was maximum in case of neem cake than mustard cake. The present study revealed that, these plant extracts and oilcake extracts could be exploited for the possible control of deadly pathogen M. phaseolina. Accordingly, this is an important proactive measure in preventing the spread of the stem rot disease through a more ecofriendly approach.

The fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana is a promising biocontrol agent for many pests. Some B. bassiana strains have been found effective against jute pests. To monitor the survival of field released B. bassiana a rapid and efficient detection technique is essential. Conventional methods such as plating method or direct culture method which are based on cultivation on selective media followed by microscopy are time consuming and not so sensitive. PCR based methods are rapid, sensitive and reliable. A single primer PCR may fail to amplify some of the strains. However, multiplex PCR increases the possibility of detection as it uses multiple primers. Therefore, in the present investigation a multiplex PCR protocol was developed by multiplexing three primers SCA 14, SCA 15 and SCB 9 to detect field released B. bassiana strains from soil as well as foliage of jute field. Using our multiplex PCR protocol all the five B. bassiana strains could be detected from soil and three strains viz., ITCC 6063, ITCC 4563 and ITCC 4796 could be detected even from the crop foliage after 45 days of spray.

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Abstract:Field experiment was conducted for disease management with seven eco-friendly treatments in Corchorus olitorius jute during 2012-2013 under randomized block design (RBD) in three replications with variety JRO-524. The ecofriendly treatment 50% N: P: K + seed treatments with Azotobacter and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) @ 5g/Kg+ Trichoderma viride (seed treatment @ 5g/Kg of seed and soil application @ 2Kg/ha at 21DAS) + Psuedomonas fluorescens spray @ 0.2% at 45DAS was found superior with minimum per cent disease incidence (3.46 and 1.43%) as compared to control (13.17 and 4.96%). The second best treatment was found with Farm yard manure (FYM) @ 5t/ha + seed treatment with Azotobecter and PSB @ 5g/Kg+ T. viride (seed treatment @ 5g/Kg of seed and soil application @ 2Kg/ha 21DAS)+ P. fluorescencs spray @ 0.2% at 45DAS and showed 3.61 and 2.0% disease incidence. The treatment with N: P: K @ 60:30:30 and seed treatment with carbendazim 50WP @ 2g/Kg at 45DAS showed 4.56 and 2.10 % disease incidence. Dry fibre yield was highest (30.33q/ha) in the plots treated with FYM @ 5t/ha + seed treatment with Azotobacter and PSB @ 5g/Kg+ T. viride (seed treatment @ 5g/Kg of seed and soil application @ 2Kg/ha at 21DAS) + P. fluorescencs spray @ 0.2% at 45DAS) and it was lowest in untreated control (15.69 q/ha).Variation in yield was attributed due to difference in plant height.

This study was aimed to identify more sources of resistance in jute germplasm (Corchorus olitorius) against deadly disease of stem rot. Thirteen C. olitorius jute germplasm including one standard check (JRO-524) were evaluated against stem rot disease at Barrackpore, Coochbehar and Bahraich location for two consecutive years 2012-2013. Out of thirteen germplasms of jute, six germplasms OIN-853, OIN-651, OIN-154, OIN-125, OEX-27 and OIN-467, with disease rating scale (1.1-5) were found moderately resistant against the stem rot disease at Barrackpore and Bahraich location. Whereas, OIN-270, OIN-932, OIN-270, OIJ-52, OIN-270, OEX-15 and OIN-853 with disease rating scale (5.1-10.0) were found moderately susceptible at all the three location. Rest of the lines were either susceptible or highly susceptible. These germplasm lines OIN-853, OIN-651, OIN-154, OIN-125, OEX-27 and OIN-467, possessed good degree of resistance against stem rot of jute and were found moderately resistant under natural epiphytotic condition at Barrackpore and Bahraich location that would be further exploited for resistance breeding programme against this deadly disease.