Perennial Flax Breeding Progress and Goals.

Oil composition of annual and perennial flax are quite comparable in quantity and quality, yet seed yield of annual flax exceeds that of perennial varieties by 2 to 3 times. At present the role of perennial flaxes such as Linum perenne and Linum lewisii is limited to horticultural and renovation purposes. When grown, they do provide a number of ecosystem services including extended growing seasons and flowering periods, soil stabilization, water retention, and nutritious vegetation for local fauna, livestock, and wildlife. This 5 minute rapid presentation will provide an overview of the three main breeding goals: (1) perennialization of domesticated annual flax, (2) domestication of native Linum lewisii, and (3) domestication of perennial flax including Eurasian varieties.