International Journal of Forestry and Horticulture (IJFH) Volume 5, Issue 4, 2019, PP 41-45 ISSN No. (Online) 2454–9487 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-9487.0504005 www.arcjournals.org International Journal of Forestry and Horticulture (IJFH) Page | 41 Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Variety Adaptation at South western Ethiopia Yechalew Sileshi 1 , Mesfin Hailemariam 1* , Behailu Atero 1 , Abush Tesfaye 2 1 Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institutes of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Jimma, Ethiopia 2 International Institutes of Tropical Agriculture, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria 1. INTRODUCTION Linseed or Flax, Linum usitatissimum L. is a diploid with n=15 chromosomes is member of linaceae family. Cultivated flax, Linum usitatissimum, is placed in the section Linum and has 30 diploid chromosomes [1,2] along with the proposed progenitors L. angustifolium and L. bienne, which share homostylous rather than heterosylous flowers. The origin of flax lies in southern Europe, the Near East, or Central Asia [3-5]. Ethiopia is considered as secondary center of diversity [6]. Linseed is distributed and produced in different parts of the world such as Canada, India, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, United States, Ethiopia and Europe. Kazakhstan Russia and Canada are the top three linseed producer countries while Ethiopia is seventh in linseed production in the world with total share of 3.5% of linseed production [7]. In Ethiopia the crop is best performs in altitudes ranging from 2200-2800 m.a.s.l; but it is also produced in areas as low as 1200 m.a.s.l and as high as 3420 m.a.s.l. It is an important rotational crop for cereals and pulses, in Ethiopia linseed has long history of cultivation by smallholders’ farmers for household consumption manly used for its edible oil in Ethiopia [8]. However, the byproduct of linseed after oil extraction is used for animal feed [9]. Out of the total grain production coverage in Ethiopia 6.68% hectare of land was covered by oil seed crops from this linseed which shares a total area coverage of 0.62% ha (79044.51 ha); with a total production of 3233448.8 quintals and the national average yield is 11.16 t/ha [10] while, the productivity potential of Oromia regional state is as high as the national productivity which is 13.68 quintals per hectares [10]. From this South Western part of Ethiopia had immense potential for linseed production including Jimma, Buno Bedele and Ilu- Ababora zones. Improvement in flax has lagged behind other oilseeds, including caster and soybean, in part because flax occupies a smaller niche as an oilseed and, consequently, received reduced resources for development. Genetic diversity within the crop is low and cannot be readily supplemented by intraspecific hybridization. Finally, methods of hybrid seed production have not been developed Several studies have been conducted on linseed regarding to the improvement of the crop. So far more than 17 varieties of linseed have been released in Ethiopia by national and regional research *Corresponding Author: Mesfin Hailemariam, Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institutes of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Jimma, Ethiopia Abstract: This experiment was carried out using ten linseed varieties; conducted during the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 main cropping season at Dedo, Semodo and Gech in South Western parts of Ethiopia. The experimental design was RCBD with three replications. Data were collected on eight quantitative morphological traits with the objectives of to test the performance of released linseed varieties on yield and yield related components at South Western parts of Ethiopia and to select well adapted varieties for the tested location. The across location analysis showed significant differences (p<0.05) among varieties and locations (p<0.05) for most of the parameters, including grain yield. However, the interactions; (L*V) and (L*V*Y) showed non-significant differences. Mean grain yield ranged from 1.55 t/ha to 2.06 t/ha. The three high yielding varieties Blistar (2.06 t/ha), Kulumsa-1 (2.05 t/ha) and Jeldu (1.94 t/ha) are recommended for Dedo, Gechi and Somodo, and similar areas in Jimma, Buno Bedele and Ilu-Ababora zones. Therefore, these varieties have to be promoted to the farmer. Keywords: Adaptation; Linseed; Released varieties