Advancements in breeding technologies for enhancing mustard yield and stress resilience: A comprehensive review

Mustard ( Brassica juncea ) is a major oilseed crop, yet its yield and stability are constrained by a narrow genetic base and increasing biotic and abiotic stresses under changing climates. Although substantial progress has been made in mustard improvement, recent literature often treats traditional breeding, genomics, genome editing, hybrid systems and stress physiology as separate domains, limiting translation into integrated breeding pipelines. This review synthesizes recent advances in plant breeding technologies has significantly transformed strategies for increasing mustard yield by enabling precise modification of key agronomic characteristics and quality related traits. The quality of mustard oil has improved because of the precise manipulation of glucosinolate levels in mustard plants made possible by CRISPR/Cas9 technology, as demonstrated in experimental studies on Brassica juncea . Hybrid seed production has been significantly enhanced through the Barnase-barstar gene system, which enables stable male sterility and efficient exploitation of heterosis, leading to improved yield stability and robustness. In parallel, microsatellite markers have become indispensable tools for genetic diversity analysis, trait mapping and marker-assisted breeding. In India, the development of hybrids such as DMH-11 (Dhara Mustard Hybrid - 11) signifies the integration of molecular breeding and genetic engineering approaches aimed at enhancing productivity and reducing dependence on edible oil imports. Collectively, these advances highlight the critical role of genetic manipulation and molecular breeding strategies in improving stress resilience and achieving sustainable gains in mustard productivity.