Selection criteria for drought tolerance in Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss]

Abstract

In India, rapeseed and mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czem and Coss] is grown as a rainfed crop on conserved moisture received from monsoon rains in 37 percent of the total area under the crop. Depending on planting time and winter rains. the crop is exposed to drought stress at one or more phonological stages [1]. This calls for screening and development of drought tolerant genotypes. Because yield and drought tolerance are controlled at separate loci [2and3]. breeding for drought tolerance involves identification and transfer of morpho-physio- and biochemical traits that may impart drought tolerance to high-yielding cultivars. Available literature. however. suggest that only limited work has hitherto been done for identification and screening of such traits and genotypes. respectively for drought tolerance in Indian mustard. The present investigation was thus undertaken to generate information on drought tolerance in this crop.