Bangladesh scientists say now that they have decoded genomes of two popular native varieties of jute – Tosha and Deshi, they will need around five years to invent a new disease- and climate-tolerant variety.
A team of scientists led by Dr Maqsudul Alam sequenced the DNA of Tosha variety of jute three years back. The same team on Sunday announced to have decoded the genome of another native jute variety named “Deshi.”
The Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) introduced a variety named Snow White around 20 years ago but it could not meet the expectations as it was prone to fungal attack.
“Now we will try to improve the Snow White variety as we know the genome sequence of the jute,”Dr Maqsud said at a press conference yesterday.
The Snow White’s fibre is very good compared to the quality of other varieties, which makes it industrial friendly.
The country is still dependent on jute seeds from the neighbouring India.
BJRI Director General Dr Kamal Uddin said almost 55% of seeds – 6,000 tonnes – required by the country every year was imported from India.
Dr Maqsud said: “We can now develop a new variety of jute, which is resistant to major diseases such as fungal attack as now we know its genome sequence and this will boost the production.”
The latest feat was achieved under a project named Basic and Applied Research on Jute taken up by the BJRI in 2010. In June that year, the project decoded the genome sequence of the popular local jute variety, Tosha.
“It was impossible to cross the native varieties of jute by conventional method, but now we can develop a new variety that will yield more and will also be disease-free,” said Dr Samiul Haque, the project’s programme manager for applied research division.
Dr Maqsud said it would take around five years for his team to develop the new disease- and climate-tolerant variety.
The genome sequencing would help improve the length, quality, colour and strength of the jute fibre through genetic engineering, he said.
Jute was the country’s main cash crop two decades ago, but gradually it was replaced by tobacco.
Currently Deshi and Tosha varieties of jute are cultivated in the country.
Asked about the usage of jute as the government is trying to increase jute production, Project Director Dr Md Kamal Uddinsaid the government was trying to expand the usage of jute in the country and had already formulated the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.
If the act was implemented properly, the country would require additional 1.5m bales of jute, he said.
Bangladesh has already applied to the World Intellectual Property Organisation to get the patent on the research outcomes.
