No Abstract – part of conclusions.

A better understanding of the germination behavior of volunteer flax in relation to meterological variables and crop management practices presents a number of opportunities to maximize mechanical and chemical weed control efficacy and to limit opportunities for gene flow by pollen and seed in cereals crops the following year. Plants with novel traits can change conventional agriculture and because their potential is so large, they raise significant concerns for environmental and food safety.   If flax has an appropriate biosafety profile, i.e. it presents little risk to the environment and to the food system, Canada has the unique opportunity to develop high-yielding flax varieties customized to meet the requirements of new bioproduct and nutraceutical markets