Hairy root cultures of Scutellaria lateriflora were established using Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 and produced acteoside (18.5 mg g(-1) dry wt), baicalin (14.5 mg g(-1) dry wt) and wogonoside (12 mg g(-1) dry wt). Yeast extract (50 mu g ml(-1)) increased acteoside production 1.4-fold and flavone production 1.7-fold after 7 and 14 days of elicitation. Addition of Pectobacterium carotovorum lysate in the stationary phase of the hairy root culture stimulated only the accumulation of wogonin to 30 mg g(-1) dry wt. The production of wogonin in hairy roots could be associated with its role as a phytolaexin.