CDC Melyn

Flax

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Bethune' and 'Omega'

Summary: The distal end of the filament of 'CDC Melyn' is blue to dark blue, whereas it is white to pale blue for 'Omega'. The distal end of the style is blue for 'CDC Melyn' whereas it is white to pale blue for 'Omega'. The plants of 'CDC Melyn' flower later than 'Omega'. Ciliation of the false septa is absent in the boll of 'CDC Melyn' whereas it is present for that of 'Omega'. The seed colour for 'CDC Melyn' is yellow whereas it is light brown to medium brown for 'CDC Bethune'. The 1000 seed weight of 'CDC Melyn' is lower than that of both reference varieties. The seed length to width ratio of 'CDC Melyn' is smaller than that of both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: oilseed type
HYPOCOTYL: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration

FLOWER: very weak to weak sepal dotting at bud stage, crown is blue violet to violet just before opening, flattened disc shape, medium size corolla, blue to violet when fully developed, no longitudinal folding of petals, overlapping arrangement of petals
STAMEN: blue anther, yellow pollen
FILAMENT: blue to dark blue at distal end, white at basal end
STYLE: blue at distal and basal end
STIGMA: dark violet

BOLL: medium size, ciliation of false septa absent, semi-dehiscent, matures mid-season
SEED: yellow, medium size

DISEASE REACTION: moderately susceptible to Pasmo (Septa linicola (imperfect); Mycosphaerella linorum (perfect))

AGRONOMY: low capacity to produce basal branching, good resistance to shattering and capsule loss, fair to good resistance to lodging

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Melyn' (experimental designations FP2429, F08X425), was developed at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, using a pedigree breeding method. It is a result of a cross between the variety 'Marmalade' and the experimental line, CDC Bethune / G1303-94 // TMP1412 62% Y, conducted in 2003, in the Phytotron at the University of Saskatchewan. The F2 population was grown at the Kernen Crop Research Farm in 2004 and advanced using the pedigree system from F3 through to F5. The selection criteria used at each generation was primarily stand vigour, maturity, oil content, iodine value, and yellow seed colour. From 2008-2012, the line was evaluated as F08X425 in replicated field trials in Saskatchewan. It was entered and tested in the Yellow Linseed Cooperative Trial in 2013 and 2014 as FP2429.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials were conducted during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Trials consisted of 3 replications of each variety, organized in a randomized complete block design. There were 6 rows per replicate with a row length of 3.66 metres with 19 cm between rows. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety each year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'CDC Melyn' with reference varieties 'CDC Bethune' and 'Omega'

Seed weight (g/1000 seeds)

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Flax: 'CDC Melyn' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Bethune' (top) and 'Omega' (bottom)

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Flax: 'CDC Melyn' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Bethune' (top) and 'Omega' (bottom)