Contents: Our contributors. Preface. 1. Oilseed scenario in India-past, present and future with special reference to rapeseed-mustard/D.M. Hegde. 2. Rapeseed-mustard in India: current status and future prospects/Arvind Kumar. 3. History, origin, genetics and cytogenetics of rapeseed-mustard/Shyam Prakash. 4. Taxonomy and botany of rapeseed-mustard/A.K. Misra. 5. Genetic resource of rapeseed mustard-conservation, evaluation and utilization/A.K. Misra. 6. Breeding methods and varietal improvement in rapeseed-mustard/J.S. Chauhan. 7. Hybrid development in rapeseed-mustard/S.S. Banga. 8. Breeding for improved quality in Brassica oilseeds/S.S. Banga. 9. Analytical methods for estimation of quality parameters in rapeseed-mustard/Satyanshu Kumar. 10. Recent advances in breeding for biotic stress resistance in rapeseed-mustard/Rajbir Yadav. 11. Breeding for aphid resistance in rapeseed-mustard/Dhiraj Singh. 12. Recent advances in breeding for abiotic stresses in rapeseed-mustard/D. Kumar. 13. Physiological strategy to improve drought tolerance in crop plants-A trait based approach for breeding/M.S. Sheshshayee. 14. Principles of seed production and DUS testing in rapeseed-mustard/K.H. Singh. 15. Botany to comparative genomics of crop Brassicas/A.K. Singh. 16. Application of biotechnology for crop improvement/Rajbir Yadav. 17. Scope and problems of transgenic development in rapeseed-mustard/N. Ghosh Dastidar and S.S. Varma. 18. Agro-meteorology: characterization of rapeseed mustard growing environment and crop planning/VUM Rao and Diwan Singh. 19. Agronomic requirements of rapeseed-mustard and characteristics of agro-ecological regions/Arvind Kumar. 20. Viable and potential rapeseed-mustard based cropping systems in India/S.K. Sharma. 21. Judicious water management in rapeseed and mustard for enhanced water use efficiency/R.D. Misra and Rajeew Kumar. 22. Management of brackish/saline water and problem soil in rapeseed-mustard/C.P.S. Chauhan. 23. Weed management in rapeseed-mustard based cropping system/N.T. Yaduraju and J.S. Mishra. 24. Role of sulphur on the productivity of rapeseed-mustard/N.S. Bhogal. 25. Integrated nutrient management in rapeseed-mustard/B.S. Sinsinwar. 26. Role of micronutrients in enhancing rapeseed-mustard productivity/Vinay Singh. 27. Prospects and problems of growing crops organically with special reference to rapeseed and mustard/B.S. Mahapatra, Kishor Chilana and A. Misra. 28. Potential and problems of biofertilizers with emphasis on rapeseed-mustard/R.P. Pareek. 29. Improving soil health and fertility for enhancing rapeseed-mustard productivity/R.N. Pandey. 30. Growth, development and yield of mustard crop/Maharaj Singh. 31. Useful agricultural implements (including plant protection equipment) and mechanization in rapeseed-mustard production-selection, handling, maintenance/S.S. Ahuja and Pramod Rikhi. 32. Identification of major diseases of rapeseed-mustard, their distribution and importance/A.K. Shukla. 33. Management of diseases of rapeseed-mustard with special reference to Indian conditions/C. Chattopadhyay. 34. Partial resistance to alternaria blight of rapeseed-mustard/S.J. Kolte. 35. Resistance to white rust in Brassica species with special reference to rapeseed-mustard/R.P. Awasthi. 36. Screening techniques for insect resistance in Brassicas/G.C. Sachan. 37. Integrated insect-pest management in rapeseed-mustard (including safe handling of pesticides, residues)/Y.P. Singh. 38. Retrospective and perspectives in insect-pest management/H.C.L. Gupta. 39. Quarantine and biosafety issues in safe movement of rapeseed-mustard/R.K. Khetarpal, V. Celia Chalam and Kavita Gupta. 40. IPM strategies with reference to oilseed crops/Amerika Singh and Saroj Singh. 41. Use of covariance analysis for the estimation of missing data and error control in experiment/A.P. Mishra. 42. Statistical method to study the homogeneity of variance and pooled analysis in agricultural experiments/A.P. Mishra. 43. Emergence and salient features of the computer/Sanjay Kumar. 44. Computer application in rapeseed-mustard research and production/Vinod Kumar. 45. Remote sensing applications to agriculture with special reference to mustard/S. Dutta. 46. Networking farmers, government organisations, non-government organisations and community based organisations for participatory technology dissemination in rapeseed-mustard/S.K. Jha. 47. Indo-UK collaboration on oilseeds/N.I. Nashaat. 48. Participatory varietal selection in breeding with special reference to rapeseed-mustard: a GVT experience/J.P. Yadavendra, D.S. Bhati, Amar Prasad and K.S. Sandhu. 49. Techniques in agriculture extension research/Ashok Kumar. 50. Communication-listening skills/Baldeo Singh. 51. Agricultural technology: socio-economic prospects and constrains/Shalander Kumar. 52. Technological forecasting of rapeseed and mustard production/D. Rama Rao and R.K. Sastry. 53. Research planning and technology management in the era of globalization/Suresh Pal. 54. Implications of TRIPs to Indian agricultural research/R.K. Sastry and N.H. Rao. 55. WTO and impact on oilseed economy of India/P.R. Kumar and S.K. Jha. Subject index.

"Oilseeds constitute the second largest agricultural commodity in India after cereals accounting for nearly 5% of gross national product and 10% of the value of all agricultural products. Among the oilseeds, rapeseed-mustard group of crops occupies prominent position in the country contributing nearly 21.6% and 23.1% to the total oilseed cropped area and production, respectively. Rapeseed-mustard is the major source of income especially even to the marginal and small farmers in rain fed areas. Because of low water requirement (80-240mm), these crops fit well in the rain fed cropping system. Despite the fact that India is one of the leading oilseed producing countries in the world, it is not able to meet the edible oil requirement for its vast population. The National Research Centre on rapeseed-mustard has been striving hard since its inception to further the causes of yellow revolution and upliftment of the resource-poor farmers in the country. It was thought prudent to have this monograph for imparting information about the advances in technology to enhance and sustain rapeseed-mustard productivity.

The major objectives of writing the monograph were to share the experiences of the teachers, researchers and extension personnel to chalk out an appropriate action-plan to break the stagnation in yield and also to raise awareness about the crop among the researchers from non-traditional areas, for possible horizontal expansion of the crop in the new niches. Further, India has about 11.65 million of rice fallows, of which nearly 10% lie in eastern and northeastern states. With vast diversity in rapeseed-mustard, this group of crops offers enormous potential for utilization of such fallow lands. The contributors consisted of NRCRM staff as well scientists from SAUs and other research organizations. The book provides a platform to the researchers and research managers for effective interaction in the areas of crop improvement, natural resources management, crop protection, climate and crop planning technology dissemination, socio-economic issues data management, information and communication technology, trade and marketing and IPR in agricultural research related to oilseeds, especially rapeseed-mustard." (jacket)