Article

INTRODUCTION

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important oilseed crop cultivated in temperate and highland agroecologies for its edible oil, industrial applications, and nutritional benefits. It is widely recognized for its high-quality oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids and its diverse uses in food and non-food industries [7, 10].

Globally, linseed is cultivated across Europe, Asia, North America, and parts of Africa, with production concentrated in countries such as Canada, Kazakhstan, China, and India. Recent FAO-based estimates indicate that global linseed production has ranged between approximately 2.6 and 4.0 million tonnes in recent years, depending on climatic variability and cropping area fluctuations [9, 12]. Despite its economic importance, global average yield remains relatively low, commonly ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 t ha⁻¹ under smallholder and rain-fed systems, although yields exceeding 1.5–2.5 t ha⁻¹ are achievable under improved management and mechanized production systems [9, 12].

In Ethiopia, linseed is one of the major oilseed crops grown predominantly in the highland regions between 1,800 and 3,000 m above sea level under rain-fed conditions. The country is considered one of the centers of diversity for linseed and ranks among the major global producers of the crop [6]. National production has shown gradual improvement over time, reaching more than 80,000 tonnes in recent years; however, productivity remains low, with an average yield of approximately 1.0–1.2 t ha⁻¹ under farmers’ conditions [2, 6].

The yield gap between actual and potential linseed production is attributed to a combination of biotic, abiotic, and agronomic constraints, including limited access to improved varieties, susceptibility to major diseases such as powdery mildew (Oidium spp.), pasmo (Septoria linicola), and Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum), as well as rainfall variability and suboptimal crop management practices [7, 10]. In Ethiopia, linseed productivity remains low, with a national average yield of approximately 1.0–1.2 t ha⁻ [2, 4]. This low productivity is further constrained by poor oil content of existing cultivars, susceptibility to major diseases (wilt, pasmo, and powdery mildew), and infestation by parasitic weeds such as dodder (Cuscuta spp.), along with competition from grass and broadleaf weeds [1, 5, 11]. Abiotic stresses, including frost, soil acidity, and environmental irregularities such as micronutrient deficiencies and erratic rainfall (excess or shortage), also contribute significantly to reduced yield and yield instability [7, 8]. Furthermore, variation in fatty acid composition among genotypes affects end-use quality, where high linolenic acid content (>50%) is preferred for health and industrial applications, low levels (<2%) for cooking oil, and intermediate levels for margarine production [10].

Globally, linseed productivity is also constrained by similar factors, although higher yields are achieved in well-managed systems. Average global yield is estimated at 0.8–1.2 t ha⁻¹, while yields exceeding 1.5–2.5 t ha⁻¹ are attainable under improved agronomic practices and favorable environments [4, 9]. These differences highlight the importance of improved genotypes combined with appropriate agronomic management for yield enhancement. Therefore, addressing these constraints requires the development and deployment of improved varieties with enhanced yield potential, oil quality, and stress adaptation. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to register stable, high-yielding, and good-quality linseed varieties adapted to the highland agroecologies of Bale and other similar environments.

Varietal Origin/Pedigree and Evaluation

The candidate linseed genotypes ACC 230826 and EH010007-7, subsequently released as Filera and Keyeron, respectively, were obtained from the Holeta Agricultural Research Center of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). These genotypes, together with other experimental entries and a local check, were evaluated under multi-environment trials conducted at Sinana and Agarfa over three consecutive main cropping seasons (2018–2020) to assess their agronomic performance, adaptability, and yield potential.

Agronomic and Morphological Characteristics

Some morpho-agronomic attributes and oil content analysis of Filera and Keyeron is illustrated in Table 1, 2, 3, and in detail in Table 4.

Grain Yield Potential, Stability, and Reaction to the Major Diseases

A total of fourteen linseed genotypes, together with two standard check varieties, were evaluated at Sinana and Agarfa during the 2018–2020 main cropping seasons using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The candidate genotypes ACC 230826 and EH010007-7 consistently and significantly outperformed the standard check varieties, Jitu and Dibane, across the test environments (Table 3). Based on their superior grain yield performance, adaptability, and agronomic merit, the two genotypes were released as the varieties Keyeron and Filera, respectively. Across all testing locations, Keyeron and Filera achieved mean grain yields of 2,480 and 2,417 kg ha⁻¹, respectively (Table 2). In addition to their high yield potential, both varieties exhibited desirable oil content, with Keyeron recording 43.67% and Filera 42.84%, further enhancing their value for linseed production and utilization (Table 1).

The major diseases affecting linseed production in the target growing areas are powdery mildew (Oidium spp.), pasmo (Septoria linicola), and Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) (Getinet and Nigussie, 1997). Disease reaction was assessed using a 1–9 severity rating scale, where lower scores indicate greater resistance. Both Filera and Keyeron exhibited favorable disease responses, with a mean score of 3 for all three diseases, indicating moderate resistance under field conditions. Comparative disease severity scores for the released varieties and the standard check varieties are presented in Table 4.

Stability analysis based on the joint regression model of 3] revealed that the candidate genotypes exhibited high grain yield performance coupled with desirable stability parameters. Both genotypes showed regression coefficients (bi) not significantly different from unity and deviations from regression (S²di) not significantly different from zero, indicating broad adaptation and stable performance across diverse environments. The released varieties, Filera and Keyeron, produced mean grain yields of 2,480 and 2,417 kg ha⁻¹, representing yield advantages of 16.86% and 13.84%, respectively, over the standard check variety Jitu (Table 1). Owing to their superior yield performance and stability, both varieties were advanced to variety verification trials in 2021 and subsequently released for large-scale production in 2022.

Quality Analysis

Seed color and oil content are important quality attributes influencing variety acceptance by both producers and consumers. The light-yellow seeded variety Keyeron was particularly favored for its attractive seed color and high oil content. Laboratory analyses showed that Keyeron and Filera contained 43.67% and 42.84% oil content, respectively (Table 2), demonstrating their potential for enhanced oil yield and marketability.

Performance Stability and Adaptation Domain

The varieties Filera and Keyeron are recommended for cultivation in the highland areas of Bale, particularly at altitudes ranging from 2,300 to 2,600 m above sea level and under annual rainfall conditions of 750–1,000 mm. Their cultivation may also be extended to other regions with comparable agroecological conditions. Optimum grain yield can be achieved when the varieties are grown using the recommended fertilizer rate of 23 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅ and 23 kg ha⁻¹ N (Table 2). Stability analysis indicated that both Filera and Keyeron exhibited relatively stable and comparable performance across diverse test environments (Table 4).

VARIETY MAINTENANCE

The breeder and foundation seed will be maintained by Sinana Agricultural Research Center/ Oromia Agricultural Research Institute.

CONCLUSIONS

Filera and Keyeron Linseed varieties were released based on their higher grain yield (Filera), ideal grain color (high oil content) particularly Keyeron (Light yellow), Such varieties fetch higher market prices as compared to other varieties due to the preferred light-yellow seed color and hence could improve the income of smallholder farmers cultivating the crop in the study areas and their vicinities. In addition, these two varieties were found to be tolerant to major diseases of linseed that prevailed in the growing areas such as, Powdery Mildew, wilt and pasmo disease. The linseed varieties Filera and Keyeron are well adapted to the highlands of Bale and other similar agroecological zones in Ethiopia. Their cultivation has the potential to enhance linseed production and productivity, thereby contributing to the alleviation of the country’s chronic edible oil shortage while increasing the availability of raw material for domestic consumption and export markets.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO) for financial support of this work. We thank the Pulse and Oil Crops Technology Generation Research Team at Sinana Agricultural Research Center for field trial management and data collection, the IQQO Food Science Directorate staff, particularly Mr. Shure Soboka, for oil content analysis, and the Holetta Agricultural Research Center for providing the germplasm.

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Amanuel Tekalign. The first draft was written by Amanuel Tekalign, and all authors commented on previous versions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

This project was funded by Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO)

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The experiments conducted in this study comply with the current laws and regulations of Ethiopia regarding agricultural research. No ethical approval was required, as the study did not involve human participants, vertebrate animals, or biological materials requiring such oversight. All field trials were performed in accordance with environmental safety standards to minimize ecological impact. This study did not involve human participants. Therefore, no consent to participate was required or obtained

Consent for publication

All authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and consent to its submission and potential publication in Environmental Science and Pollution Research. We confirm that the work is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by any other journal.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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