A new high yielding and high oil content Indian mustard variety 'GM 6' (Banas Sona) recommended for Gujarat state K P PRAJAPATI, J R PATEL, S K SHAH, G P GANGWAR, D N TEJANI, A L JAT, B K PATEL AND A G DESAI Castor-Mustard Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agril. University, Sardarkrushinagar-385 506, Gujarat (Received: July 15, 2021; Revised: December 6, 2021; Accepted: December 7, 2021) ABSTRACT A high yielding genotype of Indian mustard SKM 1328 was evolved from cross between IC 385682 and SKM 0820 at Castor-Mustard Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar and identified for release as Gujarat Mustard 6 (Banas Sona) for Gujarat state. The genotype SKM 1328 was identified owing to its superior performance in preliminary yield trial conducted at Sardarkrushinagar during 2013-14. It was evaluated in multi location trials from 2014-15 to 2018-19, simultaneously it was screened against aphid and powdery mildew under late sown epiphytotic conditions at Sardarkrushinagar. Under AICRP trial, it was tested under Initial Varietal Trial (Timely sown, irrigated) at four different centres of zone IV in the year 2017-18. The mean seed yield of GM 6 (Banas Sona) variety under timely sown irrigated condition in Gujarat state was 2541 kg/ha with an increase of 14.20, 13.98 and 11.94 per cent over the check varieties Kranti, GM 3 and GDM 4, respectively. Under limited irrigation conditions, GM 6 recorded 1758 kg/ha of seed yield which was 8.85, 27.21, 9.85 and 17.75 per cent higher over the check varieties Kranti, GM 1, GM 3 and GDM 4, respectively. It was also found superior in quality traits. It recorded high oil content (38.89 %) with oil yield of 988 kg/ha which was 20.34, 24.75 and 15.02 per cent higher as compared to the check varieties Kranti, GM 3 and GDM 4, correspondingly. Besides, it also possessed comparatively high oleic acid (12.51%) than the check varieties. It has higher 1000 seed weight (5.66 g) as compared to all three checks except GM 3 which recorded 5.72 g 1000 seed weight. Considering the average seed yield in irrigated as well as limited irrigated condition and quality of the genotype SKM 1328, it was proposed and identified for release as Gujarat Mustard 6 (Banas Sona) for general cultivation by mustard growing farmers of Gujarat state. Keywords: GM 6, Oil content, Seed yield, Indian mustard Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.] is an important edible oilseed crop after groundnut. Indian mustard belongs to family Brassicacae and genus Brassica. It is a natural amphidiploid (2n=36) of Brassica campestris (2n=20) and Brassica nigra (2n=16) (Nagaheru, 1935). Mustard is largely self-pollinated but certain amount (5-18%) of cross pollination may also take place (Labana and Banga, 1984). In India, there was remarkable increase in the production of mustard during last 33 years. The production was around 2.68 million tonnes with productivity of 674 kg/ha until 1985-86 which is increased to 9.34 million tonnes with productivity of 1499 kg/ha in 2018-19 (Anonymous, 2018). On the other hand, the demand of edible oils is increasing very rapidly with increasing population and has been estimated to be 28.40 million tonnes by 2030 and 41.6 million tonnes by 2050 (Kumar, 2017). In Gujarat, mustard was cultivated in 1.95 lakh hectares area with the production of 3.48 lakh tonnes and productivity of 1745 kg/ha (Anonymous, 2018). The average productivity of Gujarat is higher than the national average productivity and ranks second after Haryana. Mustard is one of the most --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corresponding author's E-mail: kpp1960@gmail.com important rabi oilseeds crops in Gujarat. Wherein, North Gujarat region is ideally suited for the cultivation of mustard which includes Banaskantha, Mehsana, Patan, Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha, Arvalli and Kutch districts which cover more than 95% of total cultivated area under mustard in Gujarat. Winter is short in this region as temperature rise early at the end of season, hence, short duration and high yielding varieties are the most suitable ones. Early efforts made in this direction resulted in the release of two mustard varieties, Gujarat Mustard 2 (in 1995) and Gujarat Mustard 3 (in 2005) (Thakkar et al., 2010). Breeding efforts have been continued and the last variety was released as GDM 4 (Gujarat Dantiwada Mustard 4) in 2011 (Prajapati et al., 2017), which is a predominant variety having good yield potential at farmer's fields. However, to enhance the production of mustard in order to fulfill the requirement of edible oil production, there is an urgent need to develop a variety with high yield potential, adaptable to varying climatic conditions and better seed quality. Keeping this objective in view, breeding efforts were initiated to evolve new high yielding variety suitable for different agro-climatic conditions. 343 J. Oilseeds Res., 38(4) : 343-351, Dec., 2021