Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(1): 3603-3611 3603 Review Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.701.423 Variability, association and genetic divergence analysis in Chench (Corchorus acutangulus Lam.): A Popular Leafy Vegetable of Chhattisgarh, India- A Review Vivek Kumar Kurrey*, Pravin Sharma, Amit Dixit, Ishwar Singh Diwan and Arti Kujur Department of Vegetable Science, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur - 492 012, Chhattisgarh, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Chench (Corchorus acutangulus Lam.) is one of the unexploited and underutilized leafy vegetable and also know as vegetable jute in India. In Chhattisgarh, it is popularly known as Chench Bhaji and belongs to the family Tiliaceae. Chench is an annual herb, green leaves along with tender petiole and soft stem from a wide range of plants are consumed as a leafy vegetable. The 100 g of fresh edible portion of chench bhaji contain is water (81.4 g), energy (58 kcal), protein (5.1 g), fat (1.1 g), carbohydrate (8.1 g), fibre (1.6 g), Ca (241 mg), P (83 mg), Fe (7.2 mg) and ascorbic acid (80 mg) (Gopalan et al., 2004). The bitterness in Corchorus Leaves is due to Corchorin Glycosides. Green leafy vegetables are good source of folic acid and antioxidant International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 01 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com In India, the leaves of a large number of wild and cultivated plants are used as leafy vegetables. They have a very high protective food value and are very easy to grow. The use of leafy vegetables as food has been formed an integral part of the culture and tradition of many indigenous communities of the world. It constitutes an essential component in the diet and food security of many tribal and local communities particularly people living around the forest fringe. In Chhattisgarh, the life and economy of the tribal and local people are intimately connected with the natural vegetation. Leafy vegetables play a major role in the nutritional requirement of the tribal and local population in remote parts of the Chhattisgarh. Leafy vegetables are not only important as food but it also fulfill the regular requirement of nutrients Keywords Chench, Corchorus acutangulus Lam., genetic variability. Divergence, Correlation and Path analysis Accepted: 30 December 2017 Available Online: 10 January 2018 Article Info