Flax anther culture: effect of genotype, cold treatment and media

We report on screening of wide range of flax cultivars for androgenic response and on testing of induction conditions for flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) anther culture and plant regeneration. Anthers were cultured on four different media: Mo, N6, MS and N&N supplemented with various combinations of growth regulators. The induction of callus formation from cultured anthers was the highest on N6 (with cultivar PR FGL 77 – 12 %) and N&N media (with cultivar Carolin – 2.8 %), preferentially after cold pretreatment (7days at 8 °C). Shoots were formed on calli derived from the microspores inside the cultured anthers on media N&N and N6 supplemented with 1 mg l−1 zeatin or 1 mg l−1BAP + 1 mg l−1NAA, respectively and elongated on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l−1 zeatin. The highest number of shoots (120) was observed with cultivar Red Wing. Shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l−1IAA. Our experiments resulted in total in 62 % anther response and 155 plants regenerated and transferred into soil.