Association of Flax Seed Yield and Its Components in Southeast Texas Using Path Coefficient and Biplot Analyses

摘要

In addition to numerous health and industrial uses, flax (Xinum usitatissimum L.) has been evaluated throughout the United States as a potential biodiesel crop. One approach for improving flax yields was to identify the physiological characteristics contributing the most to flax yield. Two locations in southern Texas were selected to evaluate the association between tiller number, number of pods per tiller, number of seeds per pod, seed weight, and overall yields. Tiller number was the most significant positive contributing trait (P < 0.05) to seed yield of flax at both locations. However, the effect of tiller number was almost equally negated by that of pods per tiller (compensatory) at both locations. Seed per pod and seed weight were not significant (P > 0.05) components of seed yield in flax in this study. Selection for higher tiller number would increase grain yield of flax in southern Texas and should be the focus of plant breeders to further enhance seed yield for this area.