Two tissue culture derived mustard varities released

A somaclone of mustard designated as Pusa Jaikisan was released in the year 1994 for commercial cultivation (Fig.1). Its performance over a period of three years in All India Coordinated Trials displayed distinct superiority (20% increase in seed yield and 40% increase in oil production) over the best check Varuna. This cultivar has been immensely popular among the farmers even in the zones for which it was not recommended. Later another cultivar Pusa Gold has also been released by the Centre (Fig.1).

Contact: Dr. R.K. Katiyar ( rkkatiyar@hotmail.com )

Somatic cell hybridization was used extensively to develop novel cytoplasmic recombinants (Fig.2.). Somatic hybrids were produced involving mustard and several of its wild allies including Brassica spinescens, Moricandia arvensis, Trachystoma ballii, Diplotaxis catholica, Erucastrum laevigatum. Sinapis alba, Diplotaxis erucoides, Brassica cossoneana, E. rucastrum abyssinicum and E. gallicum. Several cytoplasmic male sterility systems of mustard have been developed by combining the cytoplasm of wild relatives such as B.oxyrhina, D.catholica, T.ballii, M.arvenis etc. with the nucleus of mustard through repeated backcrossing of respective somatic hybrids with mustard. M.arvensis - based CMSand restores lines have been distributed to the breeders for developing commercial hybrids.

Contact: Dr. S.R. Bhat ( srbhat22@rediffmail.com )