Comparative Genomics and Synteny Within Corchorus Species and Among Malvaceae Genomes

Jute (Corchorus spp.) is an important bast fiber crop which covers 80 percent of the bast fiber production worldwide. This crop belongs to the Malvaceae family, which includes 243 genera of flowering plants with many of important crop species. The only two cultivated species of jute (C. capsularis and C. olitorius) are found worldwide, whose stem barks are used to produce the fiber. The fiber is used for making ropes, sackings, papers, twines, bags, burlaps, yarn, coarse cloths, and so on. This chapter reviews the available genomic information among the Corchorus species. Besides, we discuss the comparative genetic studies between the jute and other Malvaceae plants. The present information will be helpful for future comparative genomic studies and for improvement of jute.