The effect of genotype, growth regulators and preconditioning of donor plants on callus induction in anther culture of flax was investigated. Anthers were cultured on modified MS medium supplemented with five different combinations of plant growth regulators. The results suggested that specific combinations of growth regulators must be designed for each genotype. Major differences between the present results and previous reports are discussed. The influence of sucrose concentration was also investigated. For flax cultivar, 'Mikael', callus induction was higher in medium supplemented with 1 mg l(-1) BAP and 2 mg l(-1) 2,4D containing 6% sucrose, while this combination of growth regulators significantly increased callogenesis in cultivars 'Lirina', 'Barbara' and 'Szaphir' when supplemented with 9% or 12% sucrose. The preconditioning of donor plants influenced callogenesis in subsequently isolated anthers. Anthers from donor plants grown at a lower temperature (18/14 degrees C) significantly increased callus induction over those from plants grown at a higher temperature (22/18 degrees C), although each genotype still required optimization of growth regulator combinations in the induction medium. Only 'Mikael' regenerated shoots when the callus was from induction medium supplemented with 2 mg I(-1) BAP and 1 mg l(-1) NAA.

A total of 56 seed samples of five spontaneus Brassicaceae species -flixweed (Descurainia sophia L.), wallflower mustard (Erysimum cheiranthoides L.), fanweed (Thlaspi arvense L.), sea rocket (Cakile baltica Jord. ex Pobed.) and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.)) were collected in different regions of Lithuania. The samples were sown in autumn (2008)(2009)) and spring (2009)(2010) in the fields of Experimental Station of Lithuanian University of Agriculture on a Calc(ar)i-Epihypogleyic Luvisol (LVg-p-w-cc). Phenological observations and assessment of productivity parameters were performed. All the investigated autumn-sown species, except for T. arvense, produced higher stems and surpassed spring-sown plants in productivity parameters. Meanwhile, for T. arvense the weather conditions had greater influence than sowing time. The most stable parameters for the study period were the amount of oil in seeds (V = 6.3-11.3) and the number of silicles per inflorescence (V = 20.7-43.2). The most unstable parameters were the number of inflorescences (V = 30.93-94.4) and seed yield per plant (V = 16.5-135.0). D. sophia (6.4 ± 0.9 g) exhibited the highest single plant productivity and stability of features. Among the studied species E. cheiranthoides distinguished itself by the highest (37.8 ± 2.6% DM (dry mass) and the most stable (V = 6.9) oil content in the seeds.

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