Golden fibre refers to

Concept

Common crop nicknames identify commodities by a distinctive physical or economic feature. The phrase ‘golden fibre’ denotes a natural fibre associated with a golden-yellow appearance and high commercial value.

Application

Jute is a long, lustrous bast fibre obtained from the stem of Corchorus plants. Its natural golden-yellow colour and commercial importance explain the nickname ‘golden fibre’. Therefore, the referred crop is jute.

Contrast

• Tea is a plantation beverage crop; its processed leaves are used to prepare a drink.

• Cotton is a soft seed fibre obtained from the bolls of Gossypium plants and is often called ‘white gold’.

• Jute is a stem-derived bast fibre with a naturally golden-yellow sheen.

• ‘More than one’ would require the same nickname to apply conventionally to at least two listed commodities.

• ‘None of the above’ would require the nickname to be absent from the conventional names of every listed commodity.

Cross-check

The term is consistent with both the fibre’s appearance and jute’s economic importance; tea is a beverage crop and cotton is a different type of fibre. Hence the result remains jute.