Characterization of Northern Spring Flax As a Winter Crop for Southeast Texas.

Flax is an oil seed crop and can be potentially used for bio-diesel and other products. The objective of this study was to characterize northern spring flax cultivars for winter cropping in southeast Texas. In this study, five flax cultivars, Nekoma, Omega, Pembina, Prairie Thunder and York were characterized. Plant height and branches per plant were measured; immature and mature capsules per plant were counted. Leaf photosynthetic rate, shoot and capsule dry weights, seed weight, oil content and nitrogen were determined. In the present study, Omega and Pembina were taller compared to the other cultivars. Nekoma had more branches per plant, whereas Omega had more immature capsules per plant, compared to other cultivars. Leaf photosynthetic rate was higher in Omega and Prairie Thunder, compared to other cultivars. In the present study, there was no difference among the cultivars with respect to days to flower, however, Omega and Nekoma matured early compared to Pembina, Prairie Thunder and York. At harvest, Omega and York had more mature capsules, and greater capsule weight and shoot weight per plant, compared to other cultivars. Among the five cultivars, York yielded the most. Due to delayed machine harvest, there was decrease in crop yield of Omega due to capsule dehiscence and capsule shattering. Seeds of Nekoma and Pembina had more oil content compared to other cultivars, whereas seed of Omega and Pembina had more protein content. This study indicates that northern spring flax can be grown as a winter crop in southeast Texas.