A comparative study of morphophysiological characteristics of flax in controlled and natural environmental conditions.

Abstract

Genetic diversity of plants increases the possibility of choice and provides higher adaptability of plants to adverse environmental conditions. Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is one of the crops requiring attention and introduction in agricultural production. In Siberia, Russia already in 1908 the first experiments with flax were started in Tobolsk province. In the 20th century this branch was developed on the farms of Tyumen region. Heat resources, agrochemical properties of soils, water supply are adequate for the cultivation of this crop in the northern latitudes. The study was aimed to explore the effects of seed treatment with phosphemidum on chlorophyll content and morphometric parameters of flax seedlings and plants. Seventeen samples of fibre flax and three samples of linseed of different origin (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Canada, Czech Republic, France and Germany) from the collection of the Institute of Biology of Tyumen State University were studied. Air-dried seeds were treated with the solution of chemical agent phosphemidum in concentrations of 0.005, 0.01 and 0.1 %. Laboratory experiments revealed differences in morphometric parameters of plant seedlings. The response to seed treatment with mutagen was studied by the variability of chlorophyll content in the leaves. The samples were found to differ in the dynamics of chlorophyll accumulation by the stages of ontogenesis. All samples reacted to the increase of phosphemidum concentration by the decrease in chlorophyll content in leaves.