Vishva Deepak Chaturvedi

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.), which is cultivated throughout the world belongs to the family cruciferae (Brassicaeae) under the genus Brassica. This is the major Rabi season oilseed crop of North India containing 38-42% oil and 20-24% protein. India is the third largest rapeseed-mustard producer in the world after China and Canada with 19.80 per cent of world's total production (2016-17). In India, it is grown in the area of 5.79 mha with the major production of 6.31 mt and productivity of 1089 kg/ha (Statistical year book, 2016). Rape seed mustard cultivated in 26 states of the northern and eastern plains of the country, about 6.8 mha is occupied under these crops (2015-16).