Background and aims: Investigation was carried out to estimate the variability, heritability, genetic advance for fiber yield based on yield attributing morpho-anatomical traits of tossa jute in field and laboratory. Materials & Methods:The experiments were carried out using 12 tossa jute genotypes followed by randomized complete block design in five jute research regions (Rangpur, Faridpur, Jessore, Manikganj districts and Bangladesh Jute Research Institute head office, Dhaka) of Bangladesh during 2019-20. Hypothesis: The tested genotypes were expected to perform better for fiber yield than control varieties. Results: The jute genotypes i.e. Acc. 1318, Acc. 1306, (JRO S 1 ), O-412-9-4, O-0512-6-2 providing good results for plant height, base diameter, green weight and dry fiber yield in morphological study; and total trapezoidal area per transverse section, number of trapezoid per T. section, bark diameter, bark thickness in anatomical study depicting the more variability as well as possibility of tossa jute development. These morphological and anatomical traits showing significant association with one another, and coupled with high genetic and phenotypic variance-covariance components; high heritability; high & moderate genetic advance and genetic advance in percent of mean would be used for selection of jute genotypes regarding the jute crop improvement for fiber yield. Conclusions: The high variation for morphological and anatomical characters may be considered as effective method for screening of jute genotypes for higher fiber yield comparing with control varieties. The genotypes i.e. Acc. 1318, Acc. 1306, (JRO S 1 ), O-412-9-4, O-0512-6-2 with good morphological and anatomical traits related to yield could be used as parents in breeding program as well as jute variety development.

Salinity is a serious abiotic stress to Jute and other crop cultivation at saline regions in the world. No salt tolerant Tossa Jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) variety was developed in Bangladesh. Hence, six Tossa Jute accessions were investigated at germination stage against six concentration levels (0.00 or d.H2O, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 14.0 and 16.0 dS m-1) of salt (NaCl) using RCB design at Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) during March-July, 2020. Jute seeds collected from Gene Bank of BJRI were allowed to germinate under laboratory condition. Seed germination rate was adversely affected as well as delay in germination was prolonged with increasing the salt concentration. In control, seeds were germinated up to 14.0 dS m-1 salt solution. Among six genotypes, Acc. 1141 and Acc. 3801 showed the highest germination rate (86.67 %); Acc. 3801 gave maximum root length (17.0 mm), dry biomass (6.37 mg); and Acc. 1089 showed higher shoot length (10.0 mm), fresh weight (43.93 mg) and salt tolerance index (60.69 %) under 14.0 dS m-1 level. Higher relative salt harm rate (7.14 %) was observed in both Acc. 1141 and Acc. 3801 under 14.0 dS m-1 salinity indicating highly tolerance to salinity. Acc. 3801 and Acc. 1141 were found good for germination under salt stresses; Acc. 3801, Acc. 1089 for fiber yield and salt tolerance; Acc. 3801 and Acc. 1407 for higher fiber yield. Acc. 3801 was found good for salt tolerance and fiber yield content. The genotypes with good desirable characters would be used as breeding materials to develop high yielding salt tolerant Tossa Jute variety.

Organogenic callus induction and high frequency shoot regeneration were achieved from cotyledon explants of teasle gourd. About 94.8% of cotyledon explants derived from 18 day old cotyledon produced green, compact nodular organogenic callus in MS medium containing BA 1 mgl-1 after 51 days with 95% shoot induction. The elongated shoots rooted in MS medium supplemented with IBA 0.3 mgl-1. Rooted plants were acclimatized in growth room and subsequently established in soil with 100% survivability. This protocol produced an average of 19.8 shoots cotyledon-1 explant in 22.2 days of culturing.