Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a strategic fiber crop with increasing importance for sustainable agriculture and textile industries. With crop diversification and development of domestic fiber resources, the renewed interest has emerged in fiber flax cultivation in Uzbekistan. However, the genetic improvement of fiber-related traits—such as fiber yield, length, strength, and fineness—remains challenging because of their quantitative inheritance and robust environmental sensitivity. The present review summarized recent research advancements in flax fiber, particularly focusing on germplasm diversity, conventional and molecular breeding strategies, and the application of DNA marker technology. The local landraces, advanced lines, and introduced accessions have expanded the genetic base for fiber improvement. Modern approaches, including quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and marker-assisted selection (MAS), have also enabled the identification of genomic regions and candidate genes involved in the development of fiber quality. This review also discussed future perspectives for flax breeding under Uzbekistan’s agro-climatic conditions, emphasizing integrated phenotypic, molecular, and genomic approaches to develop high-yielding, better-quality, and stress-resilient fiber flax cultivars. The results provide a scientific framework to accelerate breeding efficiency and support the sustainable expansion of flax production in Central Asia.

Keywords: Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), fiber traits, breeding, germplasm resources, fiber quality, DNA markers, QTL mapping, marker-assisted selection

Key findings: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) fiber traits improvement research in Uzbekistan. The findings highlighted the importance of combining traditional breeding with molecular and genomic approaches to improve fiber yield and quality.