FLAVONOID CONTENT OF FLAXSEED - INFLUENCE OF CULTIVAR AND ENVIRONMENT

Two studies, one with four cultivars grown at four locations during 19 89 to 1993, and the second with a transgenic and its non-transformed p arent cultivar grown at three locations for three years, were undertak en to explore the variation in total flavonoid content of flaxseed (Li num usitatissimum). Results of the analyses of variance for the first study showed significant cultivar as well as environmental effect on f lavonoid content. Cultivar NorLin displayed the highest flavonoid cont ent across the sites with a mean of 71 mg/100 g, and Omega, a yellow-s eeded flaxseed cultivar, the lowest with a mean of 35 mg/100 g. There was no significant difference between a transgenic flaxseed and its no n-transformed parent for total flavonoid content except for one locati on in 1991. Flavonoid content was inversely related to the protein con tent and there was a weak positive correlation between flavonoid and o il levels.