The assessment of parent material for oil flax breeding in the central region of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia

In 2022 and 2023, at the field experimental station of the Russian State Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, we evaluated some varieties of oil flax for the adaptability to climatic conditions of the central region of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation. During the study, the yield, elements of the crop structure, the safety of plants to harvest, as well as the content of oil, protein, and fiber in seeds were evaluated. In addition, the possibility of dual usage of the samples was evaluated too. According to the results of the study, the coefficients of variation for some signs were calculated. The highest yield was shown by the variety LM-98 in 2023 (19.78 kg/ha). In terms of oil content, the varieties varied slightly (the coefficient of variation was 0.79). The variety Raduga varied slightly by oil yield (СV% = 3.73), since its yield was the most stable over the years (14.37 quintal/ha in 2022 and 14.48 quintal/ha in 2023). In terms of plants safety to harvest, the varieties Raduga, Rucheek, and LM-98 varied slightly, while the variation of the variety RFN was 25.10 over the years, which may be due to its affection by fungal diseases in 2022. In terms of technical length, all varieties varied on average, since 2023 turned out to be quite arid and flax lacked moisture during the rapid growth phase. We recommended to use the variety LM-98 as the parent material for the breeding of highly productive varieties of oil flax in the conditions of the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone.