AC Vulcan oriental condiment mustard

Abstract

AC Vulcan oriental condiment mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] was developed from landraces of oriental mustard grown at Lethbridge, AB, in the 1960s. Lethbridge 22A registered in 1974 was the first true yellow breeding oriental mustard cultivar, followed by Domo in 1977, from which Cutlass was selected. AC Vulcan is a single plant selection from Cutlass. Data on the cultivar Forge (not a check cultivar) are provided for comparison because Forge was the predominant cultivar of oriental mustard in western Canada at the time when Cutlass and AC Vulcan were developed. Forge was developed by Mr. John Hemingway of Colman's Food, Norwich, UK. AC Vulcan yielded 3.0% less grain than the check cultivar Cutlass, on average, over 81 station years in 9 yr of condiment Co-op tests 1999–2007, and was well adapted to the mustard-growing areas of the Canadian prairies. AC Vulcan was one day later in maturity than Cutlass and one day earlier than Forge. It was similar in height to Cutlass. It had 0.5% lower fixed oil than Cutlass and 0.3% greater protein content. Forge had very low fixed oil content at 38.9%. AC Vulcan had increased seed weight (2.82 g per 1000 seed) compared with Cutlass (2.73 g per 1000 seed). Forge had low seed weight (2.49 g) per 1000 seed. AC Vulcan had 12.04 mg g seed-1 of allyl glucosinolate; 0.96 mg g seed-1 greater than Cutlass. Green seed counts varied from 0.65% for Forge to 0.84% for AC Vulcan, statistically not different from each other; this was reflected in seed chlorophyll contents. AC Vulcan and Cutlass were resistant to white rust [Albugo candida (Pers.) Kuntze] race 2a, but highly susceptible to race 2v. Forge was highly susceptible to both white rust races. All three oriental mustard cultivars were highly resistant to blackleg disease [Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) Ces. et de Not.]. Major goals in oriental mustard breeding are further reductions in fixed oil content and increases in grain yield. Key words: Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., cultivar descriptions, grain yield, seed quality