Revealing seed color variation and their possible association with yield and quality traits in a diversity panel of flax (Linum Usitatissimum L.)

Abstract

Seed color is a vital quality determinant of flax, significant for consumers’ acceptability, and determines the commercial values of seeds. Also, seed color as a phenotypic marker may be a convenient way to select the plants with desired traits. This study assessed a diversity panel representing 144 flax genotypes from diverse geographical origins for the existence of genetic variability for luminosity (L*) and chromaticity (a* and b*) seed color parameters, seed yield, and quality traits over two years. The genetic variance was significant for seed color parameters, demonstrating the presence of significant genetic variability, which provides a resource to objectively evaluate and select flax genotypes based on seed color according to the market demand. High heritability combined with the high genotypic coefficient of variation observed for seed yield, oil, and protein content suggested a better genetic gain upon selecting these traits. Seed yield, seed quality traits, and phenological traits showed significant negative correlation with L* and b* parameters and positive correlation with a* suggesting that the seeds’ dark background and brown color can serve as marker characters to prescreen early-flowering, high-yielding and oil and protein-rich genotypes. Interestingly 48 brown-seeded genotypes were identified as early-flowering with short height, large seeds, high thousand seed weight, and capsule diameter. In addition, 34 genotypes were characterized by light-colored yellow seeds, large seeds, late-flowering with shorter height, and high branch numbers. Our results highlighted that North America and Australia-belonged genotypes were lighter yellow-seeded than the ones from other continents. Flax genotypes from South America and Asia were high-yielding, while genotypes from North America were low-yielding genotypes. Moreover, darker brown-seeded genotypes have prevailed in the South American continent.

SeedAI: a novel seed germination predictionsystem using dual stage deep learning framework

“…The usage of machine vision technology has been extensively implemented across diverse domains of agricultural production [11]. Many studies have presented digital image processing for non-destructive rice seed modification, with the majority of rice seed pictures processed utilizing three key aspects: texture [12], color [13], and morphological [14] features [15]. The author has presented an approach that utilizes the Hue Saturation Value (HSV) colour model for the purpose of classifying the germination status of seeds based on the disparities in colour between the seeds and roots.…”

Quality assessment of flax advanced breeding lines varying in seed coat color and their potential use in the food and industrial applications

“…A vital quality determinant and an essential part of consumer preferences for flax is seed color, which determines seeds’ commercial values. Apart from its direct influence on the acceptability and nutritional quality of flaxseed, the contents of some substances, such as oil, protein, fatty acid profile, and essential breeding traits, depend on seed color [ 19 – 21 ]. It is essential to understand these associations because indirect and sometimes undesirable selection can occur if two traits travel together.…”

“…The genes involved in seed color may even be pleiotropic, meaning a single gene affects two or more distinct phenotypic traits. Therefore, seed color has been confirmed as a phenotypic marker to be an effective tool for selecting plants with desirable traits [ 21 ].…”

Evidence of maternal effect on the inheritance of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seed coat color

“…Studies showed that yellow-seed genotypes had lower seed yield, attributed to the lower vigor, lower germination rate, and lack of flavonoids in yellow seeds (Saeidi and Rowland 1999, Zare et al 2021, Abtahi et al 2022. Abtahi et al (2022) argued that red or brown seed colors may serve as effective markers for the indirect selection of oil-and proteinrich genotypes.…”

“…Studies showed that yellow-seed genotypes had lower seed yield, attributed to the lower vigor, lower germination rate, and lack of flavonoids in yellow seeds (Saeidi and Rowland 1999, Zare et al 2021, Abtahi et al 2022. Abtahi et al (2022) argued that red or brown seed colors may serve as effective markers for the indirect selection of oil-and proteinrich genotypes. Because of the importance of seed color in the export market, this trait is included in all flax breeding programs (Mittapali and Rowland 2003, Sudarshan et al 2017, Zare et al 2021, Abtahi et al 2022.…”