CHARACTERISTICS OF OILSEED FLAX VARIETIES OF BELARUSIAN BREEDING BY MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERS, ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
An assessment of 10 varieties of oilseed flax of Belarusian breeding was carried out in terms of linear sizes, morphological and physical characters, and organoleptic properties. All samples have linear sizes typical for seeds of the crop, such as: length 0.42-0.49 mm, width 0.21-0.23 mm, thickness 0.08-0.12 mm. High values of seed volume, its elongation and thickening were noted in such varieties as Bonus and Ilim (seed volume - 0.053 cm<sup>2</sup>, seed elongation - 2.20 and 2.16, respectively, thickening -0.51). All studied varieties had crumbly, moist and oily structure, uniform appearance with the inclusion of shell particles. Plant height varied within 46.9-60.1 cm<sup>2</sup>, technical length 30.7-46.9 cm<sup>2</sup>, number of bolls 8.6-15.3, number of seeds in a boll 59.1-106.3, seed weight 0.346-0.600 g, thousand seed weight 4.88-6.67 g, productivity 79.1-117.9 g. The results obtained indicate that varietal characteristics affect the values of indices characterizing morphological and physical characters, organoleptic properties and linear sizes of seeds, and they must be taken into account when using varieties as raw materials for food industry.