Water stress intensified the relation of seed color with lignan content and seed yield components in flax ( Linum usitatissimum L . )

This study aimed to investigate the effect of yellow and brown seed coat color of flax on lignan content, seed yield, and yield components under two contrasting environments of non-stress and water stress conditions. The water stress environment intensified the discrimination between the two seed color groups as the yellow seeded families had lower values for seed yield components under the water stress. Heritability and the genetic advance for seed yield were significantly higher in brown-seeded families than those of yellow-seeded ones at water stress conditions. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) as the chief lignan in flaxseed was more abundant in yellow-seeded families under the non-stress environment but under water stress conditions, it increased in brown seeded families and exceeded from yellow ones. Considering that the brown and yellow seed color families were full sibs and shared a similar genetic background but differed in seed color, it is concluded that a considerable interaction exists between the flax seed color and moisture stress concerning its effect on seed yield and yield components and also the seed SDG content. Brown-seeded genotypes are probably preferred for cultivation under water stress conditions for better exploitation of flax agronomic and nutritional potentials.