Chromosome studies in jute plant (Corchorus olitorius)

European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience 2014; 2 (1): 01-03
ISSN: 2321-9122
www.biosciencejournals.com
EJBB 2014; 2 (1): 01-03
Received: 30-6-2014
Accepted: 15-7-2014
Olawuyi P.O.
Department of Biological Sciences,
Federal University of Technology,
Minna, Niger State Nigeria.
Falusi O.A.
Department of Biological Sciences,
Federal University of Technology,
Minna, Niger State Nigeria.
Oluwajobi A.O
Department of Biology, Kwara State
Polytechnic Ilorin, Kwara State
Nigeria.
Azeez R.A.
Department of Biology, Kwara State
Polytechnic Ilorin, Kwara State
Nigeria.
Titus S.D.
Department of Biology, Kwara State
Polytechnic Ilorin, Kwara State
Nigeria.
Akomolafe, J. F.
National Biotechnology Development
Agency (NABDA) Headquarter,
Abuja, Nigeria
Mayaki H.
National Biotechnology Development
Agency (NABDA) Headquarter,
Abuja, Nigeria
Chromosome studies in jute plant (Corchorus olitorius)
Olawuyi P.O., Falusi O.A., Oluwajobi A.O, Azeez R.A.
Titus S.D., Akomolafe J. F., Mayaki H.
Abstract
Jute plant (Corchorus olitorius) is an important vegetable crop in Nigeria. This study was carried out to
examine the chromosome behaviour in order to give an insight to the breeding behaviour and evolution
within Corchorus olitorius. The seeds were obtained from the National Institute of Horticulture,
(NIHORT) Ibadan and the root tips were studied using standard cytogenetic techniques. Results showed
2n =14 as the diploid number. However, many of the cells showed chromosome clumping which were
more prevalent at metaphase stage. There were also similarities among the chromosomes in terms of
morphology. While chromosome clumping is an indication that Corchorus olitorius is cytological unstable
and the specie is evolving, the similarity in chromosome morphology suggest that they have a common
ancestory. This information is important for the improvement of the crop in Nigeria.
Keywords: Corchorus olitorius, chromosome clumping, cytogenetic techniques and IITA.
1. Introduction
Corchorus is a genus of about 40-100 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, native
to tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. The plants are usually annual herbs,
reaching a height of 4m, un-branched or with side branches and is an erect woody herb, usually
0.5-1.2m high but may reach up to 2.5 m in cultivation and growing as tall 4m (14Ft).The leaves
are alternate, simple, lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, with an acuminate tip and a finely serrated or
lobed margin. The flowers are small (2-3 cm diameter) and yellow, with five petals; the fruit is a
many-seeded capsule. It thrives almost anywhere, and can be grown year-round The common
names of Corchorus olitorius in English are jute plant and bush okra Jew's Mallow, Bangla Tossa
Jute (India), Bush Okra, Jew´s Mallow, Jew´s-Mallow, Jute, Long-Fruited Jute, Nalita Jute, Nalta
Jute, Red Jute, Tossa Jute, West African SorrelIn many West Africa Countries, the crop is
referred to names similar to keren - keren krin - krin, crain crain or kelen kelen. Some Nigerian
names for the crop include ewedu in Yoruba, ahuara in Igbo, malafiya and ayoyo in Hausa
(Akoroda, 2008). Nigeria has a great potential for the production of Corchorus olitorius for
domestic and export market and due to nutritional value and economic importance. The yield of
the crop is still critically low as compared to other vegetable crops. Increased production of the
crop is hampered by several factors such as lack of improved varieties and low fertilization rate
(Akpabio 2000). The demand for Corchorus olitorius and its products is growing both at the
national and international levels. This indicates the need to enhance the productivity of this crop
by developing high yielding genotypes, which depend on variability its component traits in the
populations. But unfortunately, there has been little research efforts on the crop therefore this
research is designed to look at the chromosome sties in jute plant (Corchorus olitorius). The
study aims to show the chromosome basis for the variations observed in Corchorus olitorius
through a study of their mitotic phases with a view to showing their genetics and relationship to
other species of this genus.
2. Methodology and Materials
The study was carried out at Biological Sciences Laboratory Federal University of Technology,
Minna Niger State.
Correspondence
Olawuyi P.O.
Department of Biological Sciences,
Federal University of Technology,
Minna, Niger State Nigeria.
2.1 Seed Collection and Planting
One kilogram of Jute plant (Corchorus olitorius) was collected from International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan. Fifty seeds of jute were used for the mitotic studies. The jute
seeds were stored in thick paper envelop and well labelled. They were kept in refrigenerator to
prevent them from losing their viability.
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14 for Corchorus olitorius. Normal chromosome was observed
at anaphase in cells of Corchorus olitorius (plate 2) which
similar with work of Falusi 2005 who reported that
chromosomes with normal anaphase division observed in
Habiscus sabdariffa.
However, clumping of chromosomes was observed at
metaphase (plate 3) and mitotic chromosome observed at
telophase stage( Plate 4) .The clumping was mostly prevalent in
Corchorus olitorius, Falusi (2003) observed that the meiotic
element of have a high tendency to cluster together as evidence
at metaphase similar to chromosome clumping occur in pepper
(Capsicum annuum). Clumping and other regularities are
expected to lead deficiencies and duplication. These findings
are in close agreement with the earlier reports of Akpabio
(2000) in crotalaria and similar situation was reported in
crotalaria specie by Akpabio (1990).
The occurrence of chromosome clumping has always been
associated with sterility; degeneration and instability of the
genetic system in plants are forms mutation which are
fundamental sources of heritable variation. These could lead to
evolution (Falusi et al., 2005).
It is an indication that there is a store of genetic variability in
the varieties which could be exploited for improvement
purposes among Corchorus olitorius.
2.2 Preparation of Reagents
Acetic orcein stain: 1g of orcein powder was dissolved into
45ml of hot glacial acetic acid. It was allowed to cool and 55ml
of distilled water was added to it. 70% Alcohol: 100ml of 70%
alcohol was prepared by adding 70ml ethanol into 30ml of
distilled water.15% HCL: Fixative: 1 part glacial acetic acid
and 3 parts ethanol (V/V) was used. This was prepared by
adding 30ml of glacial acetic acid into 90ml of ethanol (Aliyu et
al., 2007).
2.3 Cytological Studies
The harvested root tips was pre-treated with 1, 4paradichlorobenzene for three hours after which it was fixed in
1 part glacial acetic acid and 3 parts ethanol (V/V) for 24hrs.
The roots that were not required immediately for slide
preparation were stored in 70% ethanol in a refrigerator. The
root tip was hydrolyzed in 15% hydrochloric acid for 15minutes
at 600C. The root tip was carefully removed, rinsed with water
and then transferred into the microscope slide, on the
microscope slide, the root tips was squashed in acetic orcein
stain (Falusi et al., 2003). The preparation was covered with
cover slip and allowed to dry a little, after which it was viewed
under the microscope. Also, the digital camera pictures of
various stages of division for all the stages were taken (Grubben
et al., 2004)
4. Conclusion
The cytological examinations showed wide variation in
chromosome stages of Corchorus olitorius. Clumping could
lead to instability of the genetic system, environmental factors
and evolution.
3. Results and Discussion
Cytological examinations showed cells of Corchorus olitorius
that were actively dividing (plate 1) and a diploid chromosome
number of 2n= 14 was observed. This observation agrees with
the findings of Morakinyo and Falusi (1998), who reported 2n=
Plate 1: showing cells that are actively dividing
Plate 2: showing normal mitotic chromosome at anaphase
stage
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Plate 3: showing chromosome clumping at
metaphase stage
Plate 4: showing mitotic chromosome at telophase stage
5. References
1. Akoroda MO. Cultivation of Jute (Corchorus olitorius)
for edible leaf in Nigeria 2008.
2. Akpabio, KE. Chromosomal interconnections and
metaphase I clumping in meiosis of four species of
Crotalaria L. Nigeria Journal of Botany1990 3(1)191195.
3. Akpabio KE. Chromosomal interconnections and
metaphase I clumping in meiosis of four species of
Crotalaria L. Nigeria Journal of Botany 2000; 3(1):191
-195.
4. Aliyu OM, Awopetu JA. Chromosome studies in jute
plant (Corchorus olitorius). African Journal of
Biotechnology 2007; 6(2):131-136.
5. Falusi OA. Cytogenetics of C. annuum and C.
frutescence L. Journal of Agriculture and
Biotechnology of Environment 2003; 2(5):1-7.
6. Falusi OA. Germplasm collection of peppers
(Capsicum spp.) in Nigeria. Resources Crop 2007;
8(3):765 768.
7.
Falusi OA, Salako EA, Falusi FM. Preliminary survey
of the chromosome number of the accessions of
Sasame indicumin Nigeria. Nigeria Journal of Applied
Sciences (Maiden Edition) 2007; 31-35.
8. Grubben GJH, Tahir ELIM. Corchorus olitorius L. In:
Grubben, GJH. & Denton, OA. (Editors). PROTA 2:
Vegetables/Légumes.
[CD-Rom].
PROTA,
Wageningen, Netherlands. Heiser, CB. Jute plant
(Corchorus olitorius) in evolution of crop plant.
London and New York, 2004, 265 - 267.
9. Idowu AO. Growth and yield of hot pepper (Corchorus
olitorius) as influenced by bed width and within row
spacing. Department of horticulture, college of plant
science and crop protection, university of Agriculture
Abeokuta, Ogun State, 2011.
10. Kat, M. (2002). Jute plant in profile. Ethnobotany and
Ecotravel. Available at, http:/www.Sacredearth.com.
Retrieved on 22 March, 2013.
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