Anther culture is considered as the most successful method of producing doubled haploid plants in flax. The efficiency of shoot regeneration from anther culture has been improved dramatically by optimizing culture temperature and callus induction medium. However, shoot elongation has become increasingly the limiting factor for further improvement of the overall efficiency of doubled haploid production. The effect of sucrose con- 21 centration on shoot elongation was investigated in this study. The medium containing 10 g l sucrose produced longer and more vigorous shoots than the same medium containing other concentrations of sucrose. The possible physiological basis of sucrose on shoot elongation in flax was discussed.