Greenhouse Evaluation of Flax Germplasm

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Tara Weeks.
Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor, 2000.

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Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is most widely recognized as a pioneer crop and has been grown for oil and fiber. The seed contains 35-40% oil and is marketed as linseed oil and is used in paints, varnishes and lacquers because of its drying quality. It is also used in the manufacturing of linoleum, imitation leather and inks. Oil cake consists of ~35% protein and is made into livestock feed in either pellet or meal form. In this study, seven flax accessions were obtained form the USDA National Plant Germplasm System. Seed was grown in a greenhouse and plants compared for vigor and other agronomic traits. Several accessions were then crosses to determine the feasibility of producing progeny seed in the greenhouse for future breeding studies.