WestLin 72

Flax

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Bethune', 'VT50' and 'Prairie Thunder'

Summary: At the bud stage, the sepal dotting of 'WestLin 72' is very weak to weak whereas it is medium on 'Prairie Thunder'. The distal end of the filament of 'WestLin 72' is blue whereas it is white for 'Prairie Thunder'. The boll of 'WestLin 72' is shorter and narrower than the boll of 'CDC Bethune' and 'Prairie Thunder'. At maturity, the boll of 'WestLin 72' is more dehiscent than the boll of 'VT50' and 'Prairie Thunder'. The ciliation of the false septa is present for 'WestLin 72' whereas the ciliation is absent for 'CDC Bethune' and 'Prairie Thunder'. At maturity, the seed of 'WestLin 72' is light to medium brown whereas the seed is yellow for 'VT50' and reddish brown for 'Prairie Thunder'. The seed weight per 1000 seeds of 'WestLin 72' is less than the 1000 seed weight of 'Prairie Thunder' and greater than that of 'VT50'.

Description:

FLOWER: very weak to weak sepal dotting at bud stage, violet crown just before opening, flattened disk shape, medium sized corolla, violet when fully developed, no longitudinal folding of the petals, overlapping petal arrangement
STAMEN: blue at distal end of filament, white at basal end of filament, blue anthers
PISTIL: blue at basal end of style

CAPSULE: medium size, semi-dehiscent, ciliation of the false septa present
SEED: oilseed type, maturing mid to late in season, light to medium brown

AGRONOMY: good resistance to lodging

Origin & Breeding History: 'WestLin 72' (experimental designations 08-48-F6-348, FP2376) was developed from the cross, 'CDC Bethune' x 'VT50' conducted in 2008 in Vegreville, Alberta. The line was advanced using the pedigree method with single plant selections from nursery rows in Vegreville in the F2 and F3 generations. Early selections were based on lodging resistance, oil quality, early maturity and disease resistances. The F6 generation was grown in full size plots at a single location and additionally selected for oil content, seed size, fatty acid content and seedling vigour. In 2011, a single plant selection, designated 08-48-F6-348, was evaluated in preliminary replicated yield trials at eight locations throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. In 2012 and 2013, 08-48-F6-348 was entered and tested in the Flax Cooperative test as FP2376.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials of 'WestLin 72' were conducted during the summers of 2013 and 2014 in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan and consisted of 4 replications of each variety in a RCB design. There were 6 rows per plot ranging from 4.2 to 5.0 metres in length with a row spacing of 25 centimetres. The plots were seeded at a rate of 800 plants per square metre with the exception of the reference variety 'VT50' which was seeded at a rate of 900 plants per square metre. Measured characteristics were based on 60 bolls, 60 stems and 12 seed weights per 1000 seeds per variety each year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'WestLin 72' with reference varieties 'CDC Bethune', 'VT50' and 'Prairie Thunder'

Boll length (mm)

Boll width (mm)

Seed weight per 1000 seeds at maturity (g)

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Flax: 'WestLin 72' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Bethune' (left) and 'Prairie Thunder' (right)

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Flax: 'WestLin 72' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Bethune' (left) and 'Prairie Thunder' (right)

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Flax: 'WestLin 72' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Bethune' (left) and 'VT50' (right)