Flaxseed: Researchers develop cultivar to boost yield of the nutrient-dense seed

11 Sep 2019 --- A new flaxseed cultivar has been developed by US researchers, which allows a higher crop yield and is resistant to Fusarium wild and flax rust diseases. Flaxseed is touted as having many health-boosting properties and has varied uses, therefore rendering it important for the few US farmers who grow it. Improving the yield and resistance of the crop may boost the profits of these farmers and support local economies. The new variety is the work of researchers from the Plant Sciences Department of North Dakota State University (NDSU), US. 

Nuts and seeds occupy an important space within a varied, nutritional diet. Earlier this year, a report released by Knorr and The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), coined the Future 50 Foods, highlighted this importance. The report noted that walnuts, sesame seeds and flaxseeds are strong ingredients in this category. 

Albeit small in size, flaxseed has many health benefits for humans, as well as other important uses. Flaxseed is a rich source of healthy fat, antioxidants and fiber. The seeds contain protein, lignans and essential fatty acids, such as omega 3. Moreover, the nutrients in flaxseed may help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Recently, a study showed that flaxseed fibers that ferment in the gut influence microbiota that can improve metabolic health while protecting against diet-induced obesity.

Flaxeed flowers: The whole flax plant has several uses, from human consumption to industry use and feed purposes.The researchers dedicated 13 years of study to develop the enhanced flaxseed cultivar, predominantly via selective breeding. “A cultivar is a variety of a plant, created using selective breeding,” explains Mukhlesur Rahman, study author and Associate Professor at the Department of Plant Sciences, NDSU. “That means it's been bred for crop improvement and given a unique name.” 

“The new flaxseed cultivar called ‘ND Hammond,’ is a brown-seeded flaxseed cultivar. The average seed yield of this cultivar is higher than average compared to other flax cultivars grown in North Dakota. It is also resistant to Fusarium wilt and flax rust diseases,” Rahman says. 

The whole flax plant has several uses, from human consumption to industry use and feed purposes.

• Human consumption: Flaxseeds are a common health food because of their high levels of healthy omega 3 fatty acid and easy-to-digest proteins. It's a popular addition to granola, for example.
• Industry: Stems can be made into high-quality plant-based fiber, similar to hemp. However, breeding for fiber strength and length is a different research avenue than breeding for seed yield.
• Feed: Meals made from the plant can be fed to pets, swine, chickens and horses as a healthy plant-based food.

There are two types of flaxseed, brown and yellow, available on the market. While both have similar levels of seed oil and omega 3 fatty acids, the yellow is sometimes preferred for “eye appeal,” meaning it’s more aesthetically pleasing. However, it is not as common as the brown type. Less breeding research has been put into yellow, so the yield is slightly higher in brown-seeded flax cultivars.

ND Hammond, which is a brown-seeded flaxseed, was bred for seed yield in a very long process. It started by crossing two cultivars back in 2007. Over the years, the new cultivar was repeatedly planted and the best plants were selected.

ND Hammond, which is a brown-seeded flaxseed, was bred for seed yield in a very long process.Throughout the process, researchers monitored characteristics including seed yield, oil content, and visual appeal. Later, they also chose the plants most resistant to some crop diseases. They grew it at multiple sites in North Dakota to expose it to different conditions. Each time, they chose the best-performing plants. Seeds from those plants were collected to plant again to continue the selection.

“ND Hammond was released in 2018. Sufficient seeds will be available for growers to plant in 2020,” Rahman says. “It took 13 years from start to finish to develop the cultivar and produce enough seed for growers. Most people don’t realize the process takes this long.”

The name ND Hammond was inspired by a combination of things. The ND stands for North Dakota, which is responsible for 92 percent of US flaxseed production. The Hammond part commemorates an influential flaxseed breeder at North Dakota State who made all crossbreeding to develop the cultivar.

Edited by Kristiana Lalou