Selected Engineering and Biochemical Properties of 11 Flaxseed Varieties

In the present study, selected engineering and biochemical properties of 11 flaxseed varieties namely Sheela, Sweta, Garima, Sharda, Rashmi, Shikha, Padmini, Shekhar, Neelam, LC-2063 and LC-2023, cultivated in India, were determined and compared. The average length, breadth and thickness were found in the range of 4.59 to 5.73 mm, 2.30 to 2.93 mm and 0.85 to 1.06 mm, respectively. Neelam variety had the highest surface area, geometric mean diameter, unit volume and 1000-seed mass, whereas LC-2023 had the least values among these 11 varieties of flaxseed for these properties. The angle of repose varied from 19.3 to 23.5°, and the rupture force ranged from 30.57 to 46.87 N. The α-linolenic acid content was found from 37.05% to 54.59% (on fat basis) and protein, from 17.78% to 24.62%.