Features of development and reproduction of transgenic flax

Primary transformants carrying a genetic construct with the chimeric gfp-tua6 gene were obtained using biolistic transformation of hypocotyl explants of flax variety Vasilek. Viable modified plants were used as a basis for the production of inbred lines with confirmed inheritance of introduced genetic construct in three generations. The characteristics of phenological growth stages, plant height, number of bolls and meiosis were studied for transgenic plants. A comparison of transformed lines based on reproduction years revealed a significant decrease of seed production in one line. Meiotic analysis of this line at metaphase I and anaphase I stages was conducted. The percentage of cells with impaired meiosis was highest in transgenic plants of the line with the lowest seed production. Thus, the nonspecific incorporation of genetic construct into the flax genome using biolistic transformation impairs meiosis to a different extent and it is the main reason for unequal reproducibility of transgenic flax. The production of stably reproducing transgenic lines requires systematic analysis of meiosis.