Mustard

Mustard - Rapeseed group of crops is among the oldest cultivated plants in human civilization. It is a group of oilseed crops which assumes the s ignificance in Indian national economy by occupying the second position next to groundnut and is considered as a ‘cash crop’. Biologically, the rapeseed and mustard plants belongs to the family Crucifarae and under the genus Brassica with large number of species and sub species cultivated in India. Being a number of Brasica genus, the rapeseed is closely related with mustard. The word “rape” comes from the latin word “rapum”, means ‘turnip’. On the other hand, the word ‘mustard’ is derived from latin word “mustum” or “must”, which denotes ‘expressed juice of grapes and “ard ens” means “hot & burning”. The mustard - rapeseed is a versatile group of plants used in various ways historically. The mustard and rapeseed are closely related to each other and can share the same growing areas. However, the classification of mustard - rapeseed is summed up below to show it’s different characteristics:

Major Mustard producing countries

China, Canada, India, Germany, France and Australia

Major Mustard producing states in India

Rajasthan, U.P., Haryana, West Bengal, M .P., Gujarat and Assam

Characteristics of international qualities of mustard- rapeseed

Canola quality of mustard – rapeseed

‘Canola’ is genetically altered and improved version of rapeseed. ‘Canola’ quality varieties are presently developed from either or two species of Brassica napus and Brassica campestris. ‘Canola’ is a registered trade mark of Canadian Oil Association. The name ‘canola’ denotes the seed having less than 2 per cent erucic acid in it’s oil and less than 30 micro -moles of glucosinolate per gram of it’s deoiled meal. The rapeseed, which does not conform to the above qualities is not termed as ‘‘canola’’, which is a quality standard and not a biological classification. Canola varieties, which are having both low erucic acid (less than 2 per cent) and glucosinolates (less than 30 micromoles per gram of defatted meal) are also termed as ‘double low’ or ‘00’ rapeseed or sometimes as LEAR (Low Erucic Acid Rapeseed). The rapeseed oil was used in Europe and Asia as a cooking medium and for other uses since long, but this oil contained high amount of erucic acid and glucosinolate, which was not good for health. But with development of canola cultivars in Canada, it’s use has increased manifold. After 1970s, the ‘canola’ quality oil has gained the acceptance worldwide. Now-a-days, it is major edible oil in Australia, Japan, Canada, and many European countries.

Characteristics of Hyola

It is a “canola” quality hybrid rapeseed mustard recently introduced in India. The Hyola (variety PAC-401) is only hybrid ‘canola’ quality gobhi- sarson notified by Govt. of India after extensive trials by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (I.C.A.R.). It has the yield potential with high oil percentage. In current crop diversification programme, Hyola is gaining wide acceptance among the farmers in Punjab. The acreage of Hyola has already crossed 50,000 acres. Besides farmers, it has also been accepted by the traders and consumers. As a result, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (PAIC) is promoting the Hyola cultivation through contract farming system and has identified the Hyola (variety PAC 401 ) as a suitable alternative in place of wheat during rabi season. By realizing it’s benefits, the Govt. of Punjab has given more emphasis on it’s cultivation and set a target to extend the cultivation to more than 1 lakh acre by 2004 -05 and which will be 5,00,000 acres by 2007-08.

Characteristics of Teri-Uttam:

The scientists of ‘The Energy and Resources Institute’ (TERI),New Delhi have developed a new variety of gobhi-sarson and named as “Teri-Uttam”. Oil obtained from Teri-Uttam is nutritious with better fatty acid profile and is comparable to the Internationally recognised “Canola ” oil. This variety has shown immense potential because it contains high oil content, early maturity period with in 135 days and more than 20 per cent yield as compared to the Brassica napas National check variety GS-1. It has also potential of earning foreign exchange as it’s oil meal contains low glucosinolate.