Comparison of European Fibre Flax (Linum usitatissimum) Cultivars under Eastern Canadian Growing Conditions

Renewed interest in natural fibres, decreasing subsidies to European producers, and high production costs have led the move to reintroduce fibre flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) production into eastern Canada. Research was conducted at the Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Québec, Canada in 1998 and 1999 and at Winchester and Kemptville, Ontario, Canada in 1998, to assess the performance of seven European fibre flax cultivars. Parameters evaluated included plant density, branching ratio, stem diameter, fresh and dry biomass, and mean harvest height. Data from all sites and years were subjected to a pooled anova where appropriate. The cultivar main effect was detected for all parameters measured, with the exception of mean fresh weight and mean height at harvest. There was also a site main effect for all parameters except for branching ratio. A cultivar–site interaction was found for all parameters except for mean stem diameter and mean dry weight. Results indicate a strong potential for producing fibre flax in eastern Canada using currently available European cultivars.