Pusa Bold
Early and bold-seeded with roughly 40% oil content — the reliable choice on light, low-moisture soils.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Mustard
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 110–115 days
- Seed rate
- About 7.5 kg/ha for line sowing, 10 kg/ha if broadcast — line sowing gives a more even stand and easier weeding
- Expected yield
- 18–20 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Release
- Released 1984, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi
About this variety
Pusa Bold was released by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi in 1984 and is still grown for its early maturity and bold, oil-rich seed. It matures in roughly 110–115 days with about 40% oil content, and its seed became a reference parent in the low-erucic-acid, canola-quality mustard breeding that came after it.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Seed rateAbout 7.5 kg/ha for line sowing, 10 kg/ha if broadcast — line sowing gives a more even stand and easier weeding
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
110–115 days
Expected yield
18–20 q/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Management notes
- Scout for white rust and Alternaria from flowering onward, especially after unseasonal rain or heavy dew
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Among the earliest-maturing mustard releases still in use — useful where the rabi window is tight after a late kharif harvest
- Bold, oil-rich seed (around 40% oil) that mills quote a premium for over thinner-seeded types
- Well suited to light, low-moisture soils where heavier-yielding varieties struggle
Things to consider
- Yield ceiling (18–20 q/ha) is lower than newer releases such as RH 749 on a decent loam
- An older release (1984) — it lacks the canola-quality (low erucic acid, low glucosinolate) trait bred into more recent Pusa mustard lines
- Susceptible to white rust and Alternaria blight in a humid year — needs timely fungicide scouting like most non-resistant releases
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
- Haryana
- Punjab
- Uttar Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
What is Pusa Bold mustard?
An early-maturing, bold-seeded mustard variety released by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi in 1984, still grown for its oil-rich seed.
What is the seed rate for Pusa Bold?
About 7.5 kg/ha for line sowing, or 10 kg/ha if broadcast.
How many days does Pusa Bold take to mature?
About 110–115 days, among the earliest-maturing mustard varieties still in use.
What is the oil content of Pusa Bold?
Around 40%, in bold, dark-yellow seed.
Which regions are suitable for Pusa Bold?
Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, especially on light, low-moisture soils.