Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to identify the specific cultivar of Brassica (mustard/rapeseed) that has been selectively bred to exhibit resistance against white rust disease.
Step 2: Key Concepts and Approach:
Plant breeding programs develop disease-resistant crop varieties to improve yields and minimize chemical fungicide applications.
We refer to standard agricultural records detailing crop cultivars and their corresponding pest and pathogen resistances.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
• Pusa swarnim (Karan rai): This is a specialized variety of Brassica developed through hybridization and selection.
It exhibits robust resistance to white rust, a disease caused by the oomycete pathogen Albugo candida. Thus, this is the correct variety.
• Pusa gaurav: This is a Brassica variety bred for resistance to insect pests, specifically aphids, rather than fungal pathogens.
• Pusa Sawani: This is a variety of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus / Bhindi) bred for resistance to shoot and fruit borer insects.
• Pusa komal: This is a variety of Cowpea developed for resistance to bacterial blight disease.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The Brassica variety resistant to white rust is Pusa swarnim.