Recent results of flax breeding in Lithuania

Abstract

Fiber flax breeding was started in Lithuania in 1922, and it is continued up till nowadays. Mainly conventional breeding with methods of hybridization and selection is applied for developing of new varieties. The aim of breeding work consists of developing high and stable yielding varieties, resistant to lodging, with high yield and quality, less susceptible to fungal diseases, with a moderately long vegetative growth period, well adapted to local soil and climate conditions. Soon after Lithuania joinedthe European Union in 2004, two fiber flax varieties (Kastyčiai and Vega 2) were included to the EC Common catalog of varieties of agricultural plant species (EC CC). Four fiber flax varieties—Dangiai, Snaigiai, Sartai (in 2007–2008) and Audriai (in 2012–2013)—have been tested for Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) and Distinctness, Uniformity, Stability (DUS). Tests were found to be positive, and those fiber flax varieties were included to the Lithuanian National List of plant varieties (NL) as well as to the EC CC. Generally, all Lithuanian fiber flax varieties are suitable for textile purposes as owning good fiber quality (flexibility and divisibility).Considering growing interest in healthy life, healthy nutrition worldwide, linseed breeding was started in our country also. Linseed varieties—Rasa, Rūta and Edita—for VCU and DUS have been tested in 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 with positive results and were also included to the NL as well as to the ECCC.The objective of this paper is to describe and present recent results (developed varieties) of flax breeding in Lithuania.