Shoots and embryo-like structures regenerated from cultured flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) hypocotyl segments

The effect of growth regulators and culture media on regeneration of flax from hypocotyl explants were tested. Shoot differentiation was strongly influenced by genotype, concentration of TDZ, combination of BAP and NAA. The highest number of shoots was obtained with the fibre cultivar Alex using TDZ (0.25 mg · L-1) on MS medium. Embryo-like structures were formed only on 2,4-D (5 mg · L-1) pretreated hypocotyl segments of cultivar Szegedi-30 (oil flax). As a consequence of 2,4-D pretreatment, the embryo-like structures had poorly defined or fused cotyledons and no apparent shoot apices. Morphologically not well developed ELS did not convert to plants.