Breeding for drought tolerance under rainfed conditions in Indian mustard Brassica juncea L Czern and Coss

Abstract

Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss., also known as Indian mustard, belongs to the plant family Brassiceae (Cruciferae) or the mustard family. In the trade, it is commonly referred to as rapeseed-mustard along with four other closely related cultivated oilseed species viz. B. rapa, B. napus, B.carinata and Eruca sativa. Over the past couple of decades, these crops have become one of the most important sources of vegetable oil as well as for industrial uses in the world. Rapeseed mustard crops are commercially cultivated in more than 60 countries. Brassica species are the second largest oilseed crop after soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) in the world oilseed production. The oil content of the mustard seeds ranges from 38- 46% and used as sources of oil, vegetable, condiments and fodder. The oil cake is rich in protein and is mostly used as cattle feed and organic manure. Mustard seeds and oil have been traditionally used to relieve muscle pain, rheumatism and arthritic pain. newline