Effect of Cultivars and Planting Date on Yield, Oil Content, and Fatty Acid Profile of Flax Varieties (Linum usitatissimum L.)

In order to determine the effect of cultivars and planting date on flax fatty acid profile, seed yield, and oil content, an assay with seven cultivars (Baikal, Prointa Lucero, Prointa Ceibal, Panambi INTA, Curundu INTA, Carape INTA, and Tape INTA) was carried out at Parana Agricultural Experimental Station, Argentina. Significant differences among cultivars were found for content of palmitic (5-7 g/100 g), stearic (5-8 g/100 g), linoleic (13-19 g/100 g), saturated (11-15 g/100 g), and unsaturated acids (92-96 g/100 g) within the seven cultivars. The best seed yields were observed in Prointa Lucero and Carape INTA varieties (2091.50 kg.ha(-1) and 2183.34 kg.ha(-1), respectively) in the first planting date and in Carape INTA and Prointa Lucero (1667 kg.ha(-1) and 1886 kg.ha(-1), respectively) in the second planting date. A delayed planting date had a negative effect on seed yield (1950 kg.ha(-1) and 1516 kg.ha(-1)) and oil content (845 kg.ha(-1) and 644 kg.ha(-1)) but did not affect oil composition.