Research led by Dr. Bifang Cheng (AAFC-Saskatoon) and Dr. Howard Love (Mustard 21). This project is part of the collaboration with the Diverse Field Crops Cluster (DFCC) with financial support of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Canada has been recognized as the world’s largest producer and exporter of condiment mustards including yellow mustard (Sinapis alba), brown and oriental mustard (Brassica juncea). However, there are other countries such as Ukraine, France, and the USA that now compete with Canadian mustard in the global condiment trade. We aim to develop brown and oriental mustard hybrid varieties and yellow mustard composite varieties with herbicide tolerance, high-yielding potential and desirable quality traits for the mustard producers in Canada. The enhanced seed yielding potential and desirable quality traits of the new varieties will increase crop productivity and the profitability of the Canadian mustard value chain for the producers and processors. The herbicide tolerance of the new varieties will enable producers to have more effective weed control in the field, decrease risk of mustard crop damage caused by Group 2 herbicide soil carryover, ensure minimal soil disturbance and increase the sequestration of carbon through continuous crop production. Clubroot resistance and soil salinity tolerance of condiment mustards will also be studied.
Mustard 21 Canada Inc. is part of the Diverse Field Crops Cluster. The Diverse Field Crops Cluster (DFCC) is an agri-science cluster whose purpose is to support the research and development of high-potential, special crops.