Selection of elite broadleaf mustard (Brassica juncea var. rugosa) (L.) germplasms for the mid-hill conditions of Nepal

This study was carried out to select the suitable and high leaf yielding broadleaf mustard genotypes for the mid-hill conditions of Nepal. We evaluated seven germplasms of broadleaf mustard (Brassica juncea var. rugosa (L.) Czern.) namely, ‘HRDBLM001’, ‘HRDBLM004’, ‘HRDBLM007’, ‘HRDBLM009’, ‘HRDBLM010’, ‘Marpha Chauda Pat’, and ‘Khumal Chauda Pat’ in the field of the National Horticulture Research Centre, Khumaltar under Nepal Agricultural Research Council during the winter season of two consecutive years, 2019 and 2020. The germplasms were collected from the local diversity centres in the country. The experiment was laid out in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications per treatment. Seeding was done in September, and 28-day-old seedlings were transplanted in the field. The results obtained from the two consecutive seasons revealed that plant vigour was found to be greater in ‘HRDBLM010’ and ‘Khumal Chauda Pat’ (4.7 in the 1 to 5 scale score). The highest leaf weight (65.1 g) was found in ‘HRDBLM010’, followed by ‘HRDBLM007’ (45.6 g) and ‘Khumal Chauda Pat’ (40.9 g). The highest number of leaves was produced by ‘HRDBLM004’ (50 leaves per plant), while leaf weight per plant was the highest in ‘HRDBLM010’ (691.1 g per plant) followed by ‘HRDBLM004’ (535.4 g per plant). Genotype ‘HRDBLM010' produced the highest leaf yield (54.52 MT ha-1), followed by 'HRDBLM004' (44.28 MT ha-1) and ‘HRDBLM007’ (41.65 MT ha-1). Thus, these three germplasms showed superiority among the seven tested germplasms and they could be recommended for cultivation in the mid-hill conditions of Nepal.