Varuna (T 59)
An older, still widely sown variety with a long, reliable track record on medium soils. Not yet individually researched for a detail page.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Mustard
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 135–140 days
- Expected yield
- 15–18 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi — released 1964; recognised as a Landmark Variety by the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, February 2017
About this variety
Varuna (T 59) is an Indian mustard variety released in 1964 by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. It is regarded as a landmark breeding achievement — the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding recognised it as a Landmark Variety in February 2017 — because of its extraordinary role as a breeding parent: it is reported that more than 90% of India's Indian mustard varieties carry "Varuna blood," having been used as a parent in at least 21 subsequent varieties, with Rohini, Kranti, Pusa Jaikisan and Krishna bred as direct selections from Varuna itself.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
135–140 days
Expected yield
15–18 q/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Advantages & considerations
Things to consider
- The breeding-legacy fact (>90% of Indian mustard varieties carrying "Varuna blood," used as parent in 21+ varieties) is new detail not previously in this record — it explains why this record's existing note field calls it "an older, still widely sown variety with a long, reliable track record," and does not conflict with anything already in the record.
- No specific yield, duration or state-recommendation figures from an IARI primary document were found this phase (DRMR's own variety-lookup tool for Varuna returned a database error) — this record's existing yieldPotential, duration and states fields are left as the working reference, unconfirmed but not contradicted.
- This record's existing diseaseResistance field ("Susceptible to white rust; stable rather than disease-resistant") is consistent with Varuna being a 1964-era release predating most modern disease-resistance breeding — not contradicted by anything found this phase.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
- Madhya Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
Who released Varuna (T 59) and when?
The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, released it in 1964.
Why is Varuna called a landmark variety?
The Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding recognised it as a Landmark Variety in February 2017, largely because of its extraordinary role as a breeding parent behind most of India's later mustard varieties.
How influential has Varuna been in mustard breeding?
It is reported that more than 90% of India's Indian mustard varieties carry "Varuna blood" — it was used as a parent in at least 21 subsequent varieties, with Rohini, Kranti, Pusa Jaikisan and Krishna bred as direct selections from Varuna itself.
Is Varuna resistant to white rust?
No — this record's existing diseaseResistance field notes it is susceptible to white rust and valued more for stable yield than disease resistance, consistent with it being a 1964-era release predating most modern disease-resistance breeding.
Why do farmers still grow such an old variety like Varuna?
For its long, reliable track record on medium soils — over six decades of on-farm performance data give growers confidence even without modern disease-resistance breeding.