Qualitative and quantitative changes in the seed and oil content ofBrassica juncea mutants at different times of harvesting

With increasing maturity, the moisture percentage, a, b, and total chlorophyll and crude fibre content decreased progressively, whereas oil and protein content increased. However, 1000-grain weight and pod yield increased up to stage II. Some significant correlations observed in green pod stage I were absent in the pale yellow stage II and golden yellow stage III of maturity. The positive significant correlations between 1000-grain weight and seed yield existed in both stages I and II, but there was no correlation between these characters at the golden yellow stage III. Thus mustard can be harvested at the pale yellow pod stage without any adverse effect on seed quality and yield.Presented at the 15th Annual Workshop cum Seminar on rapeseed and mustard of the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Rabi oilseed crops held at CSA University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, India, 12–13 September 1979.