Studies on mean performance, correlation and path analysis coefficient of some flax genotypes under different environmental conditions.

The present investigation was designed to evaluate sixteen flax genotypes (14 promising lines and 2 check varieties viz., Sakha 1 and Sakha 2 (dual purpose types)) for mean performance, correlation and path coefficients for straw and seed yields and some of their attributed traits under six environments (E), two seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011) in 3 locations (Kafr EL-Hamam Agric. Res. Station , EL-Sharkia Governorate as clay soil, Ismailia Agric. Res. Station , Ismailia Governorate as sandy soil and Tag EL-Ezz Agric. Res. Station , Duqhlia Governorate as saline soil) . It also aimed to determine the superior strains which can be used as useful genetic sources in flax breeding programs.
These materials were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the tested six environments. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among genotypes (G)locations (L) and (G x L) interactions for most straw and seed yield traits, indicating a widely range of variation among genotypes, environments and these genotypes exhibited differential response to environmental conditions as average of both seasons and both locations ; S.31/3/2, followed by S.413/3/4, surpassed significantly the other tested flax genotypes in respect to straw yield traits i.e.strawyield/fed and fiber yield/fed, straw yield/plant, total and technical length /plant, fiber percentage,fiber length and fiber fineness .Sakha 1 cultivar ranked the third in all straw yield traits. However S.16 followed by S.2 had the highest seed yield traits i.e. seed yield/fed., oil yield/ fed., seed yield /plant, number of capsules/ plant,number of seeds/ capsule, 1000 seed weight and oil percentage. Sakha 2 cultivar ranked the third for seed yield traits. On the other hand, the other tested flax genotypes recorded intermediate estimates for either straw and seed yield traits. Results of simple correlation coefficient revealed that Straw yield/ fed showed positive and highly significant correlation coefficient with all Straw yield traits i.e. fiber yield /fed, straw yield /plant, total and technical length / plant, fiber percentage, fiber length and fiber fineness. In the same time seed yield/fed exhibited positive and highly significant associations with all seed yield traits i.e. oil yield /fed, seed yield/plant, number of capsules /plant, number of seed / capsules , 1000 seed weight and oil percentage. A path coefficient analysis for genotypes indicated that technical length /plant and straw yield /plant and their interaction are considered the main important sources in increasing straw yield /fed having contribution percentage of 39.21 and 9.56%, respectively . In the same time, 1000 seed weight and seed yield /plant are considered the main important sources in increasing seed yield /fed, with contribution percentage of 23.29 and 11.78%, respectively. Results indicated that the maximization of straw and seed yield may be obtained by selection for technical length /plant and 1000-seed weight, respectively.