Brassica juncea
(mustard)

Preferred Common Name

• mustard

Other Scientific Names

• Brassica argyi H.Lév.
• Brassica besseriana Andrz. ex Trautv.
• Brassica cernua (Thunb.) F. B. Forbes & Hemsl.
• Brassica cernua Forbes & Hemsley
• Brassica integrifolia (H. West) Rupr.
• Brassica japonica (Thunb.) Siebold ex Miq.
• Brassica lanceolata (DC.) Lange
• Brassica napiformis (Pailleux & Bois) L.H.Bailey
• Brassica richeri Lange
• Brassica rugosa (Roxb.) L.H. Bailey
• Brassica rugosa (Roxb.) Prain
• Brassica taquetii H.Lév.
• Brassica willdenovii Boiss.
• Crucifera juncea E.H.L. Krause
• Raphanus junceus (L.) Crantz
• Sinabraca juncea (L.) G.H. Loos
• Sinapis abyssinica A. Braun
• Sinapis cernua Thunb.
• Sinapis chinensis L.
• Sinapis cuneifolia Roxb.
• Sinapis integrifolia H. West
• Sinapis japonica Thunb.
• Sinapis juncea L.
• Sinapis lanceolata DC.
• Sinapis patens Roxb.
• Sinapis ramosa Roxb.
• Sinapis ramosa Roxb. ex Fleming, Henry
• Sinapis rugosa Roxb.
• Sinapis timoriana DC.

International Common Names

• English: brown mustard; canola; Chinese mustard; gai-choi; Indian mustard; oilseed mustard; oriental mustard; wild mustard
• Spanish: mostaza

Local Common Names

• China: jie-cai
• Cuba: mostaza China; mostaza de la tierra
• Czech Republic: brukev sítinovitá; kapusta sitinová
• Denmark: ager-stedmorsblomst; håret viol; jernurt; marts-viol; tandbægret vårsalat
• Estonia: sarepta kapsasrohi
• Finland: karvaorvokki; pelto-orvokki; rikkavuonankaali; rohtorautayrtti; tuoksuorvokk
• France: choux faux jonc; mountarde brune; moutarde de Chine; moutarde de Indie; moutarde de Sarepta; moutarde frisée; moutarde Indiennne
• French Polynesia: pota tinito
• Germany: Ruten-Kohl; Sareptasenf
• Hungary: szareptai mustár
• India: saiso
• Japan: irana; karashi; karashi-na; setsuriko; takana
• Kiribati: te kabiti; te kabiti n tiaina
• Korea, Republic of: gas
• Latvia: sareptas sinepe
• Lithuania: sareptinis bastutis
• Malaysia: kai choy; sawi pahit
• Norway: åkerstemorsblom; jernurt; lodnefiol; marsfiol; tandbægret vårsalat
• Spain: mostacilla; mostaza de la China; mostaza de la tierra; mostaza de Sarepta; mostaza India
• Sweden: åkerviol; buskviol; järnört; luktviol; sommarklynne
• Tonga: pauteni
• USA: mustard greens

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Capparidales
•                         Family: Brassicaceae
•                             Genus: Brassica
•                                 Species: Brassica juncea

Brassica juncea was classified by Linneaus as Sinapis juncea in 1753 in Species Plantarum 2. Shortly after, in 1769, Cranz changed this species to Raphanus junceus. Cosson and Czernajew placed it in the genus Brassica ninety years later in 1859. It is a hybrid of Brassica nigra and Brassica rapa, believed to have originated 10,000 years ago (OECD, 2016) and has multiple varieties. All of these varieties have a chromosome number of 2n = 36 and they can be readily crossed and produce fully fertile offspring (Flora of China, 2015).

The high levels of polymorphism and the number of cultivars developed has led to a confusing taxonomy with regards to subspecies and varieties. Spect and Diedrichsen (2001) define 4 subspecies: integrifolia, juncea, napiformis and taisai. Whereas Flora of China (2015) revised the 7 varieties and 3 species defined in Florae Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (Cheo, 1987) into three varieties, juncea, napiformis and tumida. Most of the variation among varieties comes from the tremendous variation in basal leaf morphology of the species. All cultivars within these groups are used as vegetables, except for those of var. juncea, which is cultivated for its seeds and, less commonly, as animal feed.

Flora of China (2015), describes the biology of B. juncea as follows:

Herbs annual, (20-)30-100(-180) cm tall, pubescent or rarely glabrous, glaucous or not, sometimes with fleshy taproots. Stems erect, branched above. Basal and lowermost cauline leaves long petiolate; petiole (1-)2-8(-15) cm; leaf blade ovate, oblong, or lanceolate in outline, (4-) 6-30(-80) × 1.5-15(-28) cm, lyrate-pinnatifid or pinnatisect; terminal lobe ovate, repand, dentate, or incised; lateral lobes 1-3 on each side of midvein, much smaller than terminal lobe, crisped incised, dentate, repand, or entire. Upper cauline leaves petiolate or subsessile, oblanceolate, oblong, lanceolate, or linear, to 10 × 5 cm, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire or repand, rarely dentate. Fruiting pedicels straight, divaricate, (0.5-)0.8-1.5(-2) cm. Sepals oblong, (3.5-)4-6(-7) × 1-1.7 mm, spreading. Petals yellow, (6.5-)8-11(-13) × 5-7.5 mm, ovate or obovate, apex rounded or emarginate; claw 3-6 mm. Filaments 4-7 mm; anthers oblong, 1.5-2 mm. Fruit linear, (2-)3-5(-6) cm × 3-4(-5) mm, terete or slightly 4-angled, sessile, divaricate or ascending; valvular segment (1.5-)2-4.5 cm, 6-15(-20)-seeded per locule; valves with a prominent midvein, slightly torulose; terminal segment conical, (4-)5-10(-15) mm, seedless; style often obsolete. Seeds dark to light brown or grey, globose, 1-1.7 mm in diameter, minutely reticulate.

Soil drainage

• free

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• light

Natural Dispersal

Brassica juncea seeds are released as its seed pods dry and shatter. It shows slightly greater shattering resistance than other closely related Brassica species, which may reduce its rate of dispersal (Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 2008). A large number of small seeds are produced, which can be dispersed by wind and water (Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, 2017).

Vector Transmission (Biotic)

Animals, including ants, birds and mammals, can disperse seeds (Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, 2017).

Accidental Introduction

Mathematical modelling of the spread of naturalized populations of B. juncea in New Zealand found the presence of seed storage facilities and transportation routes explained a high percentage of the variance in B. juncea presence or absence. This suggests human-mediated dispersal is a major pathway for spreading wild populations (Peltzer et al., 2008). 

Intentional Introduction

Brassica juncea is a crop that has been distributed worldwide through human introduction.

In cultivation, B. juncea seed may escape harvest, allowing it to persist and become a weed of subsequent crops. It is a major weed in Australia, and considered a minor weed in Canada (Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, 2008). In Canada it is less common as a volunteer weed than other closely related species, such as Brassica napus, perhaps as a result of reduced shattering in B. juncea limiting its spread (Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 2008).

Some Brassica species have been shown to have an allelopathic effect on native species. Brassica nigra has been shown to inhibit arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which can prevent the establishment of native plants dependent on this symbiosis (Pakpour and Klironomos, 2015; Maltz et al., 2016). Extracts from B. juncea, B. napus and B. rapa were shown to reduce germination rate, seedling root, hypocotyl length and fresh and dry weight in sunflower (Jafariehyazdi and Javidfar, 2011).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Fast growing

• Allelopathic
• Hybridization

Economic Value

Brassica juncea is one of six cultivated Brassicaceae species, and it is a major oil yielding crop (Sharma et al., 2014). B. juncea, B. rapa and B. napus are the primary sources of canola oil, due to the 35-45% oil content of their seeds. Brassica oilseed production represents 14% of the edible oil production, ranking third after Palm and Soybean edible oil (OECD-FAO, 2012). Of the three Brassica oilseed crops, B juncea has a higher heat tolerance and is more common in subtropical regions, such as Asia, compared to B. napus and B. rapa, which dominate in temperate regions. Mustard oil, produced from B. juncea or B. nigra, is a major cooking oil in India and is highly prized for vegetable and fish frying for its distinctive taste and pungency due to the presence of allyl-isothiocynate and related compounds (Malode and Shelke, 2010). Canola meal (a byproduct of canola oil process) can be used as animal food or a condiment, and plants cultivated as an oilseed crop can be collected in the spring and be used as hay (Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, 2008).

The species has some technological application in biodiesel production and bioremediation and for its insecticidal, fungicidal, nematicidal and medicinal properties (Lee et al., 2014; Main et al., 2014, Ngala et al., 2015; Oliveira et al., 2011; Perniola et al., 2014; Rodríguez-Vila et al., 2015; Jham et al., 2009; Smrithi et al., 2012). Its insecticidal activity is due mainly to its glucosinolate and erucic acid composition (Cartea et al., 2011). At least 34 phenolic compounds have been identified in B. juncea leaves, but only varieties with low phenolic content are used for canola oil production (Cartea et al., 2011; Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 2008).

Social Benefit

Brassica juncea is not a common medicine, but it is used in folk medicine, as reported by Duke (1983):

It is reported to be an anodyne, aperitif, emetic, rubefacient and stimulant, and used to treat arthritis, foot ache, lumbago, and rheumatism. In China, the seeds are used for treating tumours and leaves are eaten in soups to treat bladder disorders, inflammation or haemorrhage. In Korea it is used to treat abscesses, colds, lumbago, rheumatism and stomach disorders, while is considered an antisyphilitic emmenagogue in Java. The root is used as a galactagogue in Africa and its ingestion may impart a body odour that serves as mosquito repellent. Mustard oil is used to treat skin conditions.

More recent studies have evaluated the healing and pharmacological properties of B. juncea. The seeds, oil and leaves are a source of a number of potentially bioactive phytochemicals, but research into this area is still limited (Kumar et al., 2011; Malan et al., 2011).

Environmental Services

Brassica juncea is a potential candidate for bioremediation of heavy metal pollution as it has been found to significantly deplete levels of cadmium, lead and zinc in soil (Singh and Fulekar, 2012). In addition, this species has been suggested as a biological control of several plagues as a trap crop for Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in South Africa (Charleston and Kfir, 2000; Badenes-Perez et al., 2004), among other pests, including fungi and nematodes (Ngala et al., 2015).