Diseases are a major constraint for Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) production, and management strategies require a clear understanding of epidemiological factors. An experiment was conducted at the Genome Research Centre, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, from February to June 2025, to evaluate the effects of sowing date and variety on disease severity and plant survival. The study was laid out in a two-factor Randomized Complete Block Design, assessing four sowing dates (20-February, 05-March, 20-March, 05-April) and four varieties (BJRI Tossa pat 8, O-795, BJRI Tossa pat 9, JRO-524). Data were collected on the severity of die back, stem rot, wilt, and seedling blight, along with total plant population. The results indicated that sowing date, variety, and their interaction significantly influenced disease incidence. Early sowing (20-February) led to the highest severity of wilt (5.27), while late sowing (05-April) corresponded with the highest incidence of seedling blight (14.96). Among varieties, O-795 exhibited superior plant stands and resistance to die back but was most susceptible to wilt. The interaction effect proved most critical; the wilt susceptibility of O-795 was drastically reduced when sowing was delayed to late March. The combination of sowing O-795 on 20-March emerged as the optimal strategy, yielding a high plant count (146.00), the absolute lowest incidence of die back (1.00), and low severity of other diseases.
Key words: Jute, Corchorus olitorius, die back, wilt
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