Fiber Content in Stem and Fiber Yield in the Chosen Genetic Resources of Flax (Linum Usitatissimum L.)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The flax and hemp genetic resources collection gathered by the IWNiRZ – PIB the Institute of Natural Fibres & Medicinal Plants – National Research Institute (iNNi R2) is very important for protection of biodiversity (http://www.biodiv.org). Presently, the flax collection of IWNiRZ Gene Bank comprises 829 accessions, including wild forms and landraces, primitive and advanced cultivars as well as varieties and breeding lines. Hemp collection holds about 150 accessions from various regions of the world. Genetic resources of flax and hemp are very important for health. The IWNiRZ is involved in the valorization of morphological biological features and economic traits of genetic resources of flax, hemp and herbal plants. This article characterizes two economic traits of 264 accessions of flax from many countries of the world: fiber content in stem and fiber yield. The IWNiRZ is involved also in developing The International Flax Data base, therefore the results are also presented in the form of a descriptive assessment, using special descriptors. The range of variability of the fiber content of 263 tested flax accessions ranges from 9.9% – Argentina 346 (INF00201) to 28.9% – Dacota C.I. 1072 (INF00026). The results of fiber content of 263 flax accessions according to the International Flax DataBase methodology are as follows: very low content of fiber – 27 accessions of flax (10.3% of evaluated accessions), low – 151 accessions of flax (57.4%), medium – 55 accessions of flax (20.9%), high – 28 accessions of flax (10.6%) and very high – 2 varieties (0.8%). The fiber yield results could not be prepared for the International Flax Database because the plot of the experiment was too small to be considered reliable. The IWNiRZ collection contributes as a valuable source for breeders when selecting useful parental components and also secures breeders’ achievements.