Indian mustard mainly belongs to the group of Cruciferae or Brassicaceae. It has a botanical name that can be denoted as Brassica Juncea. Mustard also has various other names including Chinese Mustard, Brown Mustard, and Oriental Mustard. Mustard is mainly cultivated due to its economic importance across the world. Besides economic importance mustard also provide humans with various health benefits including relief from headache, supports the cardiovascular system, fights infections, gives respiratory relief, and strengthens gums, teeth, and bones.
Mustard is one of the members of the cruciferous vegetable family. It is mainly cultivated for the economic importance of the country but also has various health benefits. Consuming mustard prevents cancer like other plants of this family including cabbage, broccoli, and kale. Mustard is mainly determined as the winter vegetable whereas other vegetables of this family are not seasonal.
Mustard seeds or grains can be eaten either cooked or raw. It is also considered the annual herb which is usually cultivated as oil seed crops or as fodder or vegetable. Mustard is also used as species which has various condiment values. The mustard that is white or yellow in colour is grouped under the botanical name, Brassica Hirta. The botanical name of brown mustard is Brassica Juncea, and black mustard is Brassica Nigra.
Figure 1: Mustard Seeds
In the case of mustard, there are 372 genera and they are classified into nearly 4,000 species. The members of this flowering plant’s family includes cabbage, cauliflowers, broccoli, rapeseeds, radish, turnips, and Brussel sprouts. Mustards are also determined as Brassica juncea and can be classified scientifically as listed below.
| Mustards (Brassica) | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Clade | Tracheophytes |
| Order | Brassicales |
| Clade | Rosids |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Clade | Eudicots |
| Species | Brassica juncea |
| Clade | Angiosperms |
| Genus | Brassica |
Table 1: Classifications of Mustard
Mustard has various health benefits as it provides fibre, vitamin C, protein, and B-complex vitamins.
Several health benefits include muscular pains relief, respiratory disorders, treatment of cancer, ringworm, and diabetes.
Several parts of mustard plants can be edible and have several health and economic importance. The edible parts of mustard plants are leaves and mustard seeds. The seeds are also used in making oils and species that usually prevent infections and respiratory or cardiovascular disorders. Mustard seeds also help to prevent cancer as they are parts of the cruciferous vegetable family. The leaves of mustard plants are consumed is known as mustard green. Just like Mustards there are various vegetables which have the same process of cultivation and they are known as as cruciferous vegetables.
Mustard’s petiole leaves are obovate or oblong in shape. On the bloom of the flower, it has 4 yellow petals and 4 free sepals. It also has 2 long and 2 short stamens and the flowers of mustards plants are bisexual.
There are some major significance of mustards as mentioned below −
The rounded and tiny seeds of Brassicaceae family plant, also include mustard seeds (Brassica juncea) which are utilized for the production of oil and species. The seeds of yellow or black mustard are hydro-distilled in order to produce mustard oil.
Mustard oil has an unpleasant smell and colours that varies from pale yellow to brownish-yellow. The oils are often used for flavouring purposes and help to treat infections and cancer.
Mustards have various health benefits it helps to fight with diseases and infections, cures respiratory disorders, and muscles pains, and treatment of diabetes and ringworm.
Mustard is mainly cultivated as it has a higher rate of economic importance. It has more than 360 genera and 4,000 species and can be included in major dicot groups.
Across the globe, it is cultivated for its edible stems, leaves, roots, flowers, and buds. The major components of mustards are oilseeds.
Figure 2: Benefits of Mustards
The seeds of some mustard species are utilized in modern biology, where the wild germplasm of this family is exploited in order to generate cytoplasmic male sterility to produce hybrid seeds.
One of the key importance of mustard includes culinary. Mustards can be consumed as dipping sauce for both cold and warm meat types. It can be added to mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and marinades.
Mustards are also used as emulsifiers in case of separating water and oil. It also prevents curdling if added to hollandaise sauce.
Mustard is determined as the tiny and rounded seeds incorporated into Brassicaceae family plant (Brassica juncea). Mustard seeds are usually flavoured as bitter, spicy, and robust. Brassica juncea is a member of the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae vegetables or plants family. It has various names like oriental mustards, Chinese mustard, and brown mustard. Mustard flowers are generally bisexual and have more than 360 genera and 4,000 species that are included in major dicot groups. It is mainly cultivated for economic importance and health benefits as all its parts including edible stems, leaves, roots, flowers, oilseeds, and buds are edible.
Q1. What are the scientific name and family of mustard?
Ans. The botanical name of mustard is Brassica juncea. Mustard is one of the major members of the cruciferous vegetable family.
Q2. What is the medicinal uses of mustard?
Ans. Mustards have various medicinal or health benefits and are cultivated widely for economic importance. It helps to treat cancer, muscle and skeletal pains, fevers and cold.
Q3. What are the major classifications of Mustard?
Ans. The white or yellow mustards are grouped under the botanical name, Brassica hirta. The botanical name of brown mustard is Brassica juncea, and black mustard is Brassica nigra.
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