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Abstract
In Lithuania, the flax production area was close to 10,000 hectares in 2003. Raw material for the flax fibres industry is prepared only as dew-retted flax straw. Improved methods of how to improve and control this very important and complex process, which is largely dependent on the weather conditions, are always welcomed. Joint research on how to refine flax straw dew-retting process was carried out by the Institute of Botany and the LIA Upyte Research Station in 2003. Two mixtures of the fungi, which take part in the flax dew-retting process in Lithuania, were developed and tested in the laboratory and field conditions. These mixtures were spread on flax straw once just after pulling on the swathe and once just after returning of swathe and twiceafter pulling and after later turning over the swathe. According to the data of flax straw scutchability (fibre separation index defining degree of retting), the best results were obtained when applying first and second mixtures once just after pulling on the swathe, and once again just after turning the swathe. A double application of the fungal mixtures was not more efficient than a single application.