Flavonoid content of flaxseed. Influence of cultivar and environment

Summary Two studies, one with four cultivars grown at four locations during 1989 to 1993, and the second with a transgenic and its non-transformed parent cultivar grown at three locations for three years, were undertaken to explore the variation in total flavonoid content of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum). Results of the analyses of variance for the first study showed significant cultivar as well as environmental effect on flavonoid content. Cultivar NorLin displayed the highest flavonoid content across the sites with a mean of 71 mg/100 g, and Omega, a yellow-seeded flaxseed cultivar, the lowest with a mean of 35 mg/100 g. There was no significant difference between a transgenic flaxseed and its non-transformed parent for total flavonoid content except for one location in 1991. Flavonoid content was inversely related to the protein content and there was a weak positive correlation between flavonoid and oil levels.