The ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research is playing a key role in advancing rapeseed-mustard research in frontier areas through multidisciplinary approach. The most significant achievements of this directorate include:

• Epidemiological studies were conducted on Sclerotinia stem rot and forecasting models were developed.
• Artificial stem inoculation method for Sclerotinia germplasm screening standardized.
• Sclerotinia rot management technology developed with irrigation scheduling and spray of carbendazim 0.2% during 65-70 days.
• Morphological, cultural and molecular diversity was observed among 65 and 30 geographic isolates of S. sclerotiorum and Altetrnaria brassicae, respectively.
• More than 4500 germplasm lines were screened for Sclerotinia resistance with artificial stem inoculation technique. Germplasm EC 597317, EC 597328, WR 2035, RH1222-28, DRMR 360, DRMR 1493, DRMR 1034 and DRMR 261 were showed tolerance.
• Application of bulb extract of garlic (A. sativum) at 45 and 75 DAS resulted in the lowest Alternaria blight severity on leaves (14.7%) and pods (1.4%) with 35 per cent increase in yield over control in Indian mustard.
• Stem blight of Brassica juncea, Nigrospora oryzae (Berk. & Br.) Petch (teleomorph Khuskia oryzae) were reported first time form India.
• Based on reaction of 11 rapeseed-mustard genotypes to HSR and BPR isolates of A. candida; Rohini, Basanti and RH-30 were categorized as primary differential. PBC-9221 (B.carinata) and GSL-1 (B. napus) showed resistant reaction to both the isolates.
• Seventeen entries i.e. DRMRHJ 4109, RSPN 29 (B. juncea), NUDB 26-11 (B. napus), DLSC 1 (B. carinata), RTM 1351, RTM 1359, RTM 314, RTM 1415, RTM 1357, RTM 1355, RTM 2002 RTM 1212, TMB 2030, TMB 29, TMB 2031, TMB 2032 and T 27 (E. sativa) were found resistant against aphid infestation having the AAII less than 1
• Biocontrol based IPM module has been developed for mustard aphid.
• Spray of oxydemeton methyl 25 EC @0.02 % or dimethoate 30 EC @ 0.3 % followed by release of Coccinella septempunctata @ 5000 beetles/ha provided control to mustard aphid.
• 2% neem oil and 5% neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) were found effective against the mustard aphid.
• Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS @ 5g/kg of seed provided good control to painted bug up to 30-35 DAS.
• Ten re-synthesized lines (DRMRSJ-1, DRMRSJ-18, DRMRSJ-20, DRMRSJ-21, DRMRSJ-22, DRMRSJ-25, DRMRSJ-31, DRMRSJ-32, DRMRSJ-33, DRMRSJ-34) and five advanced lines (DRMR 2018-35, DRMR 2018-37, DRMR 2018-41, DRMR 2018-44, DRMR 5206) showed resistance reactions against white rust at Wellington, Tamil Nadu.
• Seven white rust donors DRMR-1-5, DRMR 2035, DRMRJA 35, DRMRIJ 12-40, DRMRIJ 12-26, DRMR 2019, DRMRIJ 12-28 were identified during 24th Annual Group Meeting of AICRP-RM.
• RH 1222-28, EC 597328, EC 766553, EC 766620, EC 765048, IC 492687, IC 492690, IC 492695 and IC 511651 observed tolerant (lesion size <3.0 cm and disease incidence<10%) to Sclerotinia rot.