Effect of plant density on morphological and agronomical traits of four varieties of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

In order to evaluate the morphological and agronomical traits of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes in different plant densities، a field experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment in RCBD design with three replications in the field. Plant densities of 300، 500، and 1000 plant/m2 as first factor and four linseed genotypes (Iran، Australia، Canada، and France) as second factor were used. Plants were harvested at three stages of vegetative growth، 50% flowering، and maturity stage. Results showed that plant densities had significant effect on plant height and above-ground dry weight in vegetative stage; plant height، stem diameter and dry weight in 50% flowering; and plant height، stem diameter، stem branch number، and dry weight in maturity stage. In addition، the number of capsules per plant، 1000 seeds weight، grain yield and harvest index were significantly affected by plant densities. Different linseeds genotypes showed significant effect on the characteristics of plant height، stem diameter، and stem branch number، in all three harvest stages. Traits as number of capsules per plant، number of seeds per capsule، 1000 seeds weight، grain yield، harvest index، and 50% of flowering and maturity also were affected significantly by linseeds genotypes. The maximum grain yield was obtained in the density of 1000 plants/m2. Maximum values were recorded for Iranian linseed genotype with an average production of 6. 40 seeds per capsule، an average production of 1375 kg of seeds per hectare، and a mean harvest index of 21. 23. It was also identified as the latest genotype for both days to 50% flowering (65 days) and days to maturity (123 days).