Press Release from Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Ministry of Agriculture

"Taoyuan No. 3 - Round-Headed" New Tumorous Mustard Cultivar Launched to Boost the Pickled Mustard Industry

April 8, 2025

　　To meet the evolving demands of the pickled mustard industry, Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Ministry of Agriculture (hereinafter Taoyuan DARES), has officially released a new tumorous mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivar, "Taoyuan No. 3 – Round-Headed." This new variety features desirable traits such as a round tumorous stem and fewer lateral buds, offering the potential to revitalize the pickled mustard industry.

　　According to Taoyuan DARES, tumorous mustard-commonly known as Sichuan mustard-is a winter-grown crop harvested for its swollen stem, which is pickled and sold as a delicacy. Its main production areas in Taiwan are Changhua(彰化) and Yunlin(雲林) Counties. The most widely grown cultivar to date is the Wufeng variety, known for its late bolting, disease resistance, and strong adaptability. However, it has notable drawbacks, including high sensitivity to temperature fluctuations during cultivation. Rising temperatures can cause the tumorous stem to elongate, and under warm winter conditions, the stem may take on a conical shape, affecting its appearance and market value. Since whole, rounded stems fetch the highest prices for processing, a round-shaped tumorous stem is a highly desirable trait.

　　To address these challenges, Taoyuan DARES began developing this new cultivar in 2013 by crossing the Wufeng variety with the commercial cultivar "Zhongdu." After six generations of selection and purification, followed by two years of line trials from 2021 to 2022 and regional trials in Mailiao Township(麥寮鄉), Yunlin County, the superior line TYSM130602 was identified and officially named "Taoyuan No. 3 - Round-Headed."

　　"Taoyuan No. 3 – Round-Headed" features a tumorous stem with a length-to-width ratio between 1.2 and 1.5, resulting in a rounder shape compared to its Wufeng parent. Furthermore, fewer lateral buds help reduce manual labor during harvest and support mechanized harvesting. On average, the cultivar produces fewer than 1.7 lateral buds per plant. It is also less sensitive to temperature changes and seedling methods, making it highly compatible with plug tray seedling production. This allows for increased efficiency during propagation and reduces pesticide use during the nursery stage.

　　Taoyuan DARES further stated that the propagation and seed production technologies for "Taoyuan No. 3 - Round-Headed" were approved for non-exclusive technical licensing during the 10th meeting of the Agricultural Intellectual Property Review Committee in August 2024 and announced for public application in November of the same year. The station has also submitted a Plant Variety Rights (PVR) application to the Agriculture and Food Agency. Nursery operators interested in adopting the propagation and seed production technologies of this new cultivar are encouraged to contact Assistant Researcher Ming-Kun Chi at the Wufeng Branch of Taoyuan DARES.

Contact Information

Spokesperson and Deputy Director: Hsi-Pin Shih　Tel: 03-4768216 ext. 101 / 0988-688100

Agricultural Extension Section, Associate Researcher: Shing-Jong Lay　Tel: 03-4768216 ext. 410

Wufeng Branch, Assistant Researcher: Ming-Kun Chi　Tel: 03-5851487 ext. 15

Figure 1. Morphological Characteristics of "Taoyuan No. 3-Round-Headed" Plant.

Figure 2. Appearance of the Tumorous Stem of "Taoyuan No. 3-Round-Headed"