Mustard varieties

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (CSAUA&T) · Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology · 1964

Landmark variety with foundational role in Indian mustard breeding. Suitable under all climatic conditions with strong general combining ability. More than 90% of Indian mustard varieties carry Varuna blood.

Rajasthan · ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research · 1982–1983

High-yielding, stable genotype with improved oil content (43.5%) and oil yield. Kranti shows 30.2% higher seed yield over Varuna and 7.15% higher than Pusa Bold in multi-location trials. Recognized as Landmark Variety by the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding in 2017.

New Delhi (IARI) · Indian Agricultural Research Institute · 1984

Landmark low-erucic-acid variety important for quality oil production. Pusa Bold exhibits low erucic acid content, a major breeding target for edible oil improvement. Used as a cultivar reference in molecular marker studies for erucic acid content determination.

Rajasthan · ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research · 1983

Early important variety in mustard breeding, noted for pod characteristics suitable for mechanized farming. Rohini shows significantly higher number of siliqua per plant and siliqua weight compared to Varuna, improving combine-harvesting efficiency.

New Delhi (IARI) · Indian Agricultural Research Institute · 1999

Bold-seeded, widely adopted and stable variety particularly suited for central Indian conditions (Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh). Pusa Jagannath has been used as a parent in breeding for high oil content and was noted as a good general combiner for seed yield.

New Delhi (IARI) · Indian Agricultural Research Institute · 2009

Early-maturing variety (107 days) designed for early sowing in Zone II (Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, J&K plains, western UP). Particularly suitable for multiple cropping systems when sown after harvest of kharif crops (September–mid-December). Fits well in irrigation schedules requiring short-duration crops.

New Delhi (IARI) · Indian Agricultural Research Institute · 2010–2011

Late-sown variety (optimized for November sowing in rice and cotton belts) delivering exceptional yield (16.04 q/ha vs. 12.27 q/ha for checks) across 14 locations and 4 years of trials. Superior performance in fields vacated late from paddy or cotton, a critical niche for expanding mustard acreage.

New Delhi (IARI) · Indian Agricultural Research Institute · 2011–2012

High-yielding variety (19.93 q/ha) with exceptional oil content (41.5%) and early maturity (107 days). Tolerates high temperatures at seedling stage, valuable for changing climatic scenarios. Widely demonstrated with strong farmer adoption in recent trials showing 550 kg/ha yield improvement.

New Delhi (IARI) · Indian Agricultural Research Institute · 2013

Low-erucic-acid (single zero) variety with premium oil quality and bold seeds. About 7–10 days earlier than other released quality varieties; medium-yield but market-preferred for canola-quality oil. Central Variety Release Committee recognition emphasizes importance in quality-improvement strategy.

Bharatpur, Rajasthan (ICAR-DRMR) · ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research · 2013

High-yielding variety resistant to major fungal diseases (Alternaria, powdery mildew, white rust). Particularly noted for better control of mustard aphid among tested cultivars. Released for timely-sown irrigated Zone II (Rajasthan and Haryana), filling a gap in disease-resistant genetics. Frontline demonstrations showed 21–40% yield increases over farmer practice.

Bharatpur, Rajasthan (ICAR-NRCM) · National Research Centre on Rapeseed-Mustard, Bharatpur · 2008–2009

First heterotic mustard hybrid released for late-sown irrigated conditions (Zone III: UP, MP, Uttarakhand, parts of Rajasthan). Good general combiner for seed yield and yield attributes. Among the first commercial hybrids addressing yield gaps in delayed sowing.

Hisar, Haryana (HAU) · Haryana Agricultural University · 2013

Popular hybrid developed at HAU showing 62.6% yield improvement in Jammu & Kashmir and 29–40% gains in Rajasthan frontline demonstrations. Widely tested under various fertility and planting-time regimes; represents the HAU hybrid breeding success in northern India.

Eastern Uttar Pradesh and hilly regions; temperate zones of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh · ICAR institutes and State Agricultural Universities

Distinct from Indian mustard (Brassica juncea, AB genome). Tora ecotype (self-pollinated) cultivated in eastern UP; Lotni ecotype (cross-pollinated) in Himalayan temperate zones. Brown sarson offers a distinct flavour profile and oil chemistry compared to Indian mustard, with high erucic acid typical of traditional cultivars.

Predominantly Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha; parts of Assam and north-eastern states; secondary areas in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat · ICAR institutes (NRCHB, NRCM), State Agricultural Universities

Distinct Brassica species with yellow seeds and highest oil content (43–45%) among Brassica oilseeds. Shorter duration than Indian mustard (90–110 days), ideal as catch crop. Dominant in eastern India with strong GI potential for regional spice/oil markets; traditionally used for tempering and pickling.