Introduction

Introduction
    Family : Cruciferae
    English name: Mustard
    Indian name : Rai, Banarasi rai, Sufed rai, Kalee sarson (Hindi), Sasave (Kannada), Asuri, Bimbata (Sanskrit), Kadugo (Tamil), Avalu (Telugu)
    Species : Brasica nigra B. alba / B. hirta / Sinapis alba B. juncea (Linn.) Zernjajev Distribution : Europe, Central and Southern Asia and China
    Uses : Spice, condiment
  • The genus Brassica, belonging to the family Cruciferae, consists of over 150 species of annual or biennial herbs, several of which are cultivated as oilseed crops (as rape, sarson, toria, etc.) or as vegetable or fodder crops. Only the seeds of B. nigra Koch (Banarsi Rai), 'True Mustard' or 'Black Mustard'; B. alba or B. hirta or Sinapis a/ba L. (Safaid Rai), 'White Mustard' or 'Yellow Mustard' and B. juncea (Linn.) Zernjajaev, 'Indian Mustard' or 'Black Mustard' are valued as a condiment.
Last modified: Thursday, 8 March 2012, 1:23 PM