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Heterosis and Combining Ability Estimates in F₂ Flax Populations as Influenced by Plant Density¹

Seed yield, its three components (bolls per unit area, seed size, and seeds per boll), oil content, and iodine value were studied in F₂ populations of a diallel cross among nine cultivars of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) at two locations and three plant densities.

Average heterosis for yield in F₂ was 6% relative to the midparent values. Four F₂ populations exceeded in yield the high-yielding parent by 15 to 19%. One F₂ population, ‘Russian’ x C.I. 1664, exceeded by 5.5% the yield of ‘Marine’, the highest yielding cultivar. Varying plant density did not affect the magnitude of heterosis, mean oil percentage, iodine value, nor the estimates of combining ability. Plant density did have a significant effect on mean yields and on the yield components, and showed a significant interaction with genotypes for yield and bolls per unit area. In spite of the latter interaction, seven of the 36 F₂ populations were among the highest 25% in yield in all three densities. The interactions of locations with genotypes were significant for most characters, which suggests that more than one test location should be used to evaluate hybrid flax populations. General combining ability effects were significant and much larger for all characters than were specific combining ability effects at all densities.

Key Words: Yield components • Diallel • Oil Content • Iodine value

² Formerly Graduate Student, (now Researcher, Ministry of Agriculture, Giza, U.A.R.) and Research Agronomist, Plant Science Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Univ. of Minn., St. Paul, Minn. 55101.

Received for publication December 18, 1970.