The aim of this field experiment was to investigate the possible effects of mepiquat chloride (TE) and trinexapac-ethyl (MC) on oil composition, seed yield and endogenous gibberellins content of flax cultivar. Foliar application of plant growth retardants mepiquat chloride (0.897, 1.794 and 2.691 kg a.i. ha-1) and trinexapac-ethyl (0.756, 1.512 and 2.668 kg a.i. ha-1) had significantly increased seeds ripening rate and seed yield. In contrast, plant height was decreased by foliar application of MC and TE. The application of MC significantly increased seed oil yield (730 kg ha-1 by 27.0%) compared to the control. Seed and oil yield, and unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid) were increased by foliar application of MC.

This study was conducted in an effort to evaluate the effect of two gibberellin biosynthetic inhitiors, mepiquat chloride (MC 200, 400, 600 ppm) and trinexapac-ethyl ethyl (TNE 100, 200, 300 ppm) on flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seed oil composition, growth characteristics and seed yield when applied at vegetative stage. A foliar spray of 600 ppm MC was found to be most effective, resulting in decreased plant height, and an increased seed yield (1,963 kg ha-1) with highest oil content (37.2 %). Ripened seed rate ranged 90.2 –91.9% in MC treated flax and 93.7- 94.1% in TE treated flax, respectively. MC treatment increased seed yield 10.9 – 21.6% and TNE treatment also increased 7.9 –11.8% compared to the control. The significant increase of flax seed yield in MC treatment was observed 600 ppm between these concentrations. Two gibberellin biosynthetic inhibitors, MC and TNE were 1.6 – 5.5% more ripened compared to the control. An increased unsaturated fatty acid was observed when higher concentration was applied to flax plant. Endogenous GA4 content was always higher than GA1 content in both MC and TE treatment.

Gibberellic acid did not affect ethylene production, whereas gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitors triggered ethylene production in dormant tubers. Gibberellic acid did not induce sprouting of dormant tubers, however, treatment of gibberellin biosynthesis retardants enhanced sprouting rates. Sprouting rate in ancymidol-treated tubers was highest among gibberellin biosynthesis retardants. Sprouting rate of tubers treated with ancymidol increased to 91.4~% . Batatasin-III content in GA3 treated tuber was increased in the highest concentration (30~mug~;I-1) . Tubers treated with mepiquat chloride, Batatasin-I was increased steadily, but contents of Batatasin-III and V showed dramatic decrease at the 1,000~mug~;I-1) concentration. This infers that gibberellin biosynthesis retardants play key roles in promoting breaking dormancy on dormant tubers of Chinese yam.