Utilization of Rapeseed-Mustard Genetic Resources for Brassica Improvement: A Retrospective Approach

Oilseed Brassica crops play an important role in the vegetable oil economy of India and the world. There is an urgently felt need to increase their yield levels across varying growing conditions to meet the ever-growing demand for edible oil. The production level fluctuates widely over time and space mainly due to the challenges posed by various biotic and abiotic stresses. To combat these stresses that are very complex in nature, we need to have multi-pronged strategy by combining agronomical and breeding approaches. A major shift in yield level of any crop plant with increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses is possible only with extensive genetic manipulation through breeding, and the breeding efforts in turn will require the continued collection, conservation, evaluation, and deployment of diverse crop genetic resources in a targeted way. Various activities enshrined in the management of rapeseed-mustard genetic resources are systematically explained in this chapter with an aim firstly to sensitize the readers about the importance of PGR and then to explain the principles and methodologies underlying the various activities involved in PGR management with special emphasis on rapeseed-mustard group of crops. Status of rapeseed-mustard germplasm in India and the world in terms of their number, characterization, evaluation, utilization so far, and future thrust area required are also discussed in this chapter.