Vegetative Propagation of Perennial Cut Flower Flax (Linum spp.) in a Controlled Environment

Perennial flax (Linum austriacum, Linum perenne, L. austriacum) has a wide range of uses for the horticultural and agronomic markets. Protocols for vegetative propagation culture and production scheduling of perennial flax are needed to advance development of potential ornamental or specialty cut fl...

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Main Authors: Elizabeth A. Goodman, Neil O. Anderson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) 2025-02-01
Series:HortScience
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Online Access:https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/3/article-p317.xml
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author Elizabeth A. Goodman
Neil O. Anderson
author_facet Elizabeth A. Goodman
Neil O. Anderson
author_sort Elizabeth A. Goodman
collection DOAJ
description Perennial flax (Linum austriacum, Linum perenne, L. austriacum) has a wide range of uses for the horticultural and agronomic markets. Protocols for vegetative propagation culture and production scheduling of perennial flax are needed to advance development of potential ornamental or specialty cut flower (CF) cultivars, specifically for the floriculture market. The purpose of this research was to establish vegetative propagation practices for perennial flax CF selections. Fifteen CF genotypes were tested in four experiments between week 8 of 2022 and week 37 of 2023, using 5-cm cuttings from greenhouse (GH) or field cuttings. We tested mist house (MH) rooting time (2 or 3 weeks) and rooting hormone concentrations [1000 or 2000 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)]. Experiments tested rooting time over 3 or 4 total weeks, which included 2 or 3 weeks under mist, respectively, and 1 week in GH culture before rating. Rooting success was rated using a six-point Likert scale to gauge number and length of roots per cutting. Expt. 1 rooted for 3 weeks using 1000 ppm IBA, resulting in 66.5% rooting. Expt. 2 (4 weeks, 1000 ppm IBA) had 96.4% rooting. Experiment 3 (4 weeks, 2000 ppm IBA) had 82.0% rooting. Expt. 4 (replicate of Expt. 2 but rated using a binary rooted vs. unrooted rating scale, as done in a commercial setting), resulted in 85.4% rooting. Overall, Expts. 2 and 4 resulted in the greatest mean success rates, despite the differences in root rating methods. An increased IBA concentration is not recommended for Linum genotypes, as it decreased rooting success in this study. Perennial flax vegetative propagation may be successful using 1000 ppm IBA for 4 weeks to multiply GH stock plants and produce plugs (liners) for shipping and CF production. Additional research will be needed to define the timing and cultural requirements for successful shipping of vernalized, finished (rooted, robust growth) plugs for perennial CF flax cultivars.
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spelling doaj-art-88c92c951d304dd3b396690476ae90f12025-02-11T17:13:47ZengAmerican Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)HortScience2327-98342025-02-01603https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18292-24Vegetative Propagation of Perennial Cut Flower Flax (Linum spp.) in a Controlled EnvironmentElizabeth A. Goodman0Neil O. Anderson1Department of Horticultural Science, University of MinnesotaDepartment of Horticultural Science, University of MinnesotaPerennial flax (Linum austriacum, Linum perenne, L. austriacum) has a wide range of uses for the horticultural and agronomic markets. Protocols for vegetative propagation culture and production scheduling of perennial flax are needed to advance development of potential ornamental or specialty cut flower (CF) cultivars, specifically for the floriculture market. The purpose of this research was to establish vegetative propagation practices for perennial flax CF selections. Fifteen CF genotypes were tested in four experiments between week 8 of 2022 and week 37 of 2023, using 5-cm cuttings from greenhouse (GH) or field cuttings. We tested mist house (MH) rooting time (2 or 3 weeks) and rooting hormone concentrations [1000 or 2000 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)]. Experiments tested rooting time over 3 or 4 total weeks, which included 2 or 3 weeks under mist, respectively, and 1 week in GH culture before rating. Rooting success was rated using a six-point Likert scale to gauge number and length of roots per cutting. Expt. 1 rooted for 3 weeks using 1000 ppm IBA, resulting in 66.5% rooting. Expt. 2 (4 weeks, 1000 ppm IBA) had 96.4% rooting. Experiment 3 (4 weeks, 2000 ppm IBA) had 82.0% rooting. Expt. 4 (replicate of Expt. 2 but rated using a binary rooted vs. unrooted rating scale, as done in a commercial setting), resulted in 85.4% rooting. Overall, Expts. 2 and 4 resulted in the greatest mean success rates, despite the differences in root rating methods. An increased IBA concentration is not recommended for Linum genotypes, as it decreased rooting success in this study. Perennial flax vegetative propagation may be successful using 1000 ppm IBA for 4 weeks to multiply GH stock plants and produce plugs (liners) for shipping and CF production. Additional research will be needed to define the timing and cultural requirements for successful shipping of vernalized, finished (rooted, robust growth) plugs for perennial CF flax cultivars.https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/3/article-p317.xmlideotypeindole-3-butyric acidmist houselinum austriacumlinum perenneroot ratingrooting time
spellingShingle Elizabeth A. Goodman
Neil O. Anderson
Vegetative Propagation of Perennial Cut Flower Flax (Linum spp.) in a Controlled Environment
HortScience
ideotype
indole-3-butyric acid
mist house
linum austriacum
linum perenne
root rating
rooting time
title Vegetative Propagation of Perennial Cut Flower Flax (Linum spp.) in a Controlled Environment
title_full Vegetative Propagation of Perennial Cut Flower Flax (Linum spp.) in a Controlled Environment
title_fullStr Vegetative Propagation of Perennial Cut Flower Flax (Linum spp.) in a Controlled Environment
title_full_unstemmed Vegetative Propagation of Perennial Cut Flower Flax (Linum spp.) in a Controlled Environment
title_short Vegetative Propagation of Perennial Cut Flower Flax (Linum spp.) in a Controlled Environment
title_sort vegetative propagation of perennial cut flower flax linum spp in a controlled environment
topic ideotype
indole-3-butyric acid
mist house
linum austriacum
linum perenne
root rating
rooting time
url https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/3/article-p317.xml
work_keys_str_mv AT elizabethagoodman vegetativepropagationofperennialcutflowerflaxlinumsppinacontrolledenvironment
AT neiloanderson vegetativepropagationofperennialcutflowerflaxlinumsppinacontrolledenvironment