THE INHERITANCE OF VARIEGATED SEED COLOR AND PALMITIC ACID IN FLAX

Mutation breeding in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) has led to the deve lopment of a new type of edible flaxseed oil that has nearly eliminate d linolenic acid and quadrupled the level of palmitic acid. This cotto nseed-like oil should be suited for the production of margarine and sh ortening. A variegated seed coat color mutant may be used as a phenoty pic marker to distinguish varieties with this particular fatty acid pr ofile from those of linseed (high linolenic acid) or solin (low linole nic acid) varieties. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of a variegated seed coat color mutation and its linkage r elationship with the high palmitic acid mutation, The results showed t hat variegated seed coat color was controlled by a single recessive ge ne, Also it was determined that the palmitic and variegated seed loci segregated independently. Therefore solin varieties can be developed w ith this unique and useful combination of both high palmitic acid and variegated seed color.