Physiological Traits Study to Identify Suitable Mustard Genotype for Late Sown Condition of Northern Part of India

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a prominent seed crop grown in most of the northern part of India. It is also grown in different cropping systems where sowing time differs as per availability of vacant field prior to preceding crop. Being a rabi season (winter) crop its physiological as well as morphological developments are markedly influenced by temperature condition.

An investigation was carried out during rabi season of 2010-11 and 2011-2012 at Oilseeds Research Farm, Kanpur (UP) with 4 sowing dates (30^th Sept. 11^th 21^st, 31^st Oct.) and 5 genotypes (Kranti, Maya, PAC-437, PBR-357, Rohini) of mustard on sandy loam soil under irrigated condition to study different physiological and yield attributing characters.

The results shown that among the sowing dates, 11^th October registered the highest values of specific leaf weight (SLW), Crop Growth rate (CGR) estimated at 60-90 DAS, seed yield and oil content. The early sowing at 30^th Sept. registered significantly lowest seed yield (1880 Kg ha^-1) and seed oil content (38%). In case of genotypes, PAC-437 registered highest values of SLW (29.60 mg cm^-2), NAR (113.3 mg dm^-2 day^-1), RGR (26.7 mg g^-1 day^-1), CGR (0.94g plant^-1 day) at 60-90 DAS, seed yield (2079 kg ha^-1). The interaction effect of sowing date × genotypes was found significant in most of the cases. Thus, the results concluded in Indian condition specially the northern part, 11^th October proved to be the optimum sowing time of mustard. As far as the genotype is concerned, Kranti perform well of this date of sowing while PAC-437 proved its superiority over other genotypes as well as different sowings date of October month.