RESULTS OF 90 YEARS OF FLAX BREEDING IN LITHUANIA

Fibre flax breeding was started in Lithuania in 1922 at the Dotnuva Plant Breeding Station. Later flax breeding was carried out at Savitiðkis Experimental Station, and since 1965 this work has been continued at the Upytë Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (former Upytë Research Centre of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture). In the period between 1922 and 2005, eighteen fibre flax varieties have been developed with the main aim to increase fibre yield per hectare, fibre quality (being suitable for textile purposes), and flax resistance to lodging and diseases. Considering growing interest in healthy life and nutrition, linseed breeding was also started. Between 2005 and 2012, three fibre flax and three linseed varieties were developed. The aim of the breeding work consists of many duties, the most important of which are developing high yielding fibre flax and linseed varieties, resistant to lodging, with a high fibre yield and quality, high seed yield, resistance to fungal diseases, with a moderately long vegetative growth period, and which are well adapted to Lithuania’s soil and climate conditions.