Within the herein presented research, we studied the applicability of flax fabrics for composite parts in personal watercrafts in order to enhance damping of vibrations from the engine and noise reduction (which is relatively high for contemporary carbon constructions). Since the composite parts are intended to be exposed to humid environments requiring high levels of mechanical properties, a carbon-flax composite was selected. Samples of carbon, fiberglass, flax, and hybrid carbon-flax twill and biax fabrics were subjected to tensile and three-point bending tests. The mechanical properties were also tested after exposure of the samples to a humid environment. Damping was assessed by vibration and noise measurements directly on the complete float for samples as well as real parts. The hybrid carbon-flax material exhibited lower values of tensile strength than the carbon material (760 MPa compared to 463 MPa), but, at the same time, significantly higher than the other tested materials, or flax itself (115 MPa for a twill fabric). A similar trend in the results was observed for the three-point bending tests. Vibration tests and noise measurements showed reductions in vibration amplitude and frequency when using the carbon-flax hybrid material; the frequency response function for the watercraft part assembled from the hybrid material was 50% lower than for that made of carbon. Testing of samples located in a humid environment showed the necessity of surface treatment to prevent moisture absorption (mechanical properties were reduced at minimum by 28%). The tests confirmed that the hybrid material is satisfactory in terms of strength and its contribution to noise and vibration damping.

• Klíčová slova
• flax, hybrid composite, personal watercraft,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Owing to their low cost, good performance, and high lifetime stability, activated carbons (ACs) with a large surface area rank among the most popular materials deployed in commercially available electrochemical double-layer (EDLC) capacitors. Here, we report a simple two-step synthetic procedure for the preparation of activated carbon from natural flax. Such ACs possess a very high specific surface area (1649 m2 g-1) accompanied by a microporous structure with the size of pores below 2 nm. These features are behind the extraordinary electrochemical performance of flax-derived ACs in terms of their high values of specific capacitance (500 F g-1 at a current density of 0.25 A g-1 in the three-electrode setup and 189 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1 in two-electrode setup.), high-rate stability, and outstanding lifetime capability (85% retention after 150,000 charging/discharging cycles recorded at the high current density of 5 A g-1). These findings demonstrate that flax-based ACs have more than competitive potential compared to standard and commercially available activated carbons.

• Klíčová slova
• EDLC, activated carbon, flax, supercapacitor,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This research presents the influence of two different cellulose (hydrophobic pretreated/non-pretreated) and one flax-fiber unidirectional nonwoven low areal weight fiber reinforcements on the mechanical properties of urea-formaldehyde bonded five layered beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) plywood as an alternative to commonly used synthetic fiber reinforcements. The results display divergent trends regarding the improvement of the mechanical properties-modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, tensile strength, shear strength, and screw withdrawal resistance. The non-treated cellulose and flax reinforcing nonwoven fabrics revealed similar mechanical behaviors. The hydrophobic pretreatment of cellulose nonwovens improved the performance of plywood regarding tensile strength (10-11%), shear strength (7-16%), screw withdrawal resistance (11-15%), and modulus of rupture (0-2%), but lowered modulus of elasticity (2-3%) compared to the reference.

• Klíčová slova
• cellulose, flax, natural fiber-reinforcement, plywood,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The recent developments of FRP (fiber reinforced polymer) are towards the growth and usage of natural FRP in the field of engineering due to both environmental and economic benefits. Flax fiber is one of the most commonly used natural fibers. One of the critical factors affecting the mechanical behavior of FFRP (flax fiber reinforced polymer) is hygrothermal aging. Some experimental works have been conducted to investigate the effect of hydrothermal aging on static behavior of FFRP. However, fewer efforts have been made to study its damping properties after hydrothermal aging. In this paper, the effect of surface treatment (including alkalization, silanization, acetylation and alkali-silanization) on dynamic mechanical behavior of FFRP under hygrothermal aging is studied. The results show that water resistance and damping properties of FFRP are improved after surface treatment. The acetylation treated FFRP exhibits excellent damping performance among all treated specimens.

• Klíčová slova
• composite, damping, flax fiber, hygrothermal aging,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important crop for the production of oil and fiber. In vitro manipulations of flax are used for genetic improvement and breeding while improvements in adventitious root formation are important for biotechnological programs focused on regeneration and vegetative propagation of genetically valuable plant material. Additionally, flax hypocotyl segments possess outstanding morphogenetic capacity, thus providing a useful model for the investigation of flax developmental processes. Here, we investigated the crosstalk between hydrogen peroxide and auxin with respect to reprogramming flax hypocotyl cells for root morphogenetic development. Exogenous auxin induced the robust formation of adventitious roots from flax hypocotyl segments while the addition of hydrogen peroxide further enhanced this process. The levels of endogenous auxin (indole-3-acetic acid; IAA) were positively correlated with increased root formation in response to exogenous auxin (1-Naphthaleneacetic acid; NAA). Histochemical staining of the hypocotyl segments revealed that hydrogen peroxide and peroxidase, but not superoxide, were positively correlated with root formation. Measurements of antioxidant enzyme activities showed that endogenous levels of hydrogen peroxide were controlled by peroxidases during root formation from hypocotyl segments. In conclusion, hydrogen peroxide positively affected flax adventitious root formation by regulating the endogenous auxin levels. Consequently, this agent can be applied to increase flax regeneration capacity for biotechnological purposes such as improved plant rooting.

• MeSH
• antioxidancia metabolismus   MeSH
• biotechnologie MeSH
• hypokotyl účinky léků   růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin účinky léků   růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• kyseliny indoloctové metabolismus   MeSH
• kyseliny naftalenoctové farmakologie   MeSH
• len účinky léků   růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• peroxid vodíku metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• přeprogramování buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 1-naphthaleneacetic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• antioxidancia MeSH
• indoleacetic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• kyseliny indoloctové MeSH
• kyseliny naftalenoctové MeSH
• peroxid vodíku MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin MeSH

Modern research focuses on natural, green, and sustainable materials that can be used to replace conventional materials. Because of their beneficial qualities, natural fibre composites are being thoroughly researched. This research focuses on the development of a flax fibre reinforced with phenol-formaldehyde resin hybridization with ramie fibre through a vacuum infusion process. Eight different sequences were fabricated using a core-sheath structure and were mechanically characterized as per ASTM standards. The fabrication technique influences the adhesion of the matrix with reinforcement. The results also reveal that composite having ramie as a sheath layer and flax as a core delivers good mechanical characteristics compared to vice versa. The laminate H exhibited highest mechanical properties among all the eight laminates produced for this study. It exhibited a tensile strength of 54 MPa, tensile modulus of 0.98 Gpa, elongation of 7.1%, flexural strength of 143 Mpa, and compressive strength of 63.65 Mpa. The stress strain curves revealed that all the laminates exhibited ductile behaviour before failing during the tensile test and flexural test, respectively. The stacking sequence of the laminate H influenced the mechanical properties exhibited by it and its counterparts. A morphological study was carried out to analyse the failure surfaces. Morphological analysis exhibited few defects in the laminate after the tests. The composites developed delivers better mechanical properties than commercial composites available on the market, which can be used in lightweight structural applications.

• Klíčová slova
• flax, mechanical testing, phenol formaldehyde resin, ramie, scanning electron microscope, vacuum infusion process,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In order to improve the acceptance of broader industrial application of flax fiber reinforced beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) plywood, five different industrial applicated adhesive systems were tested. Epoxy resin, urea-formaldehyde, melamine-urea formaldehyde, isocyanate MDI prepolymer, and polyurethane displayed a divergent picture in improving the mechanical properties-modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, tensile strength, shear strength and screw withdrawal resistance-of flax fiber-reinforced plywood. Epoxy resin is well suited for flax fiber reinforcement, whereas urea-formaldehyde, melamine urea-formaldehyde, and isocyanate prepolymer improved modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, shear strength, and screw withdrawal resistance, but lowered tensile strength. Polyurethane lowered the mechanical properties of flax fiber reinforced plywood. Flax fiber reinforced epoxy resin bonded plywood exceeded glass fiber reinforced plywood in terms of shear strength, modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture.

• Klíčová slova
• fiber reinforced plywood, flax fiber, wood-based composite,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In the present study, novel mixed additives of Chitosan or Paraloid B-72 combined with nanoparticles (NPs) of Ag, ZnO, or cellulose (NCL) were examined for their effects on the mechanical, optical, and fungal inhibition properties of the papersheets produced. The highest tensile, tear, and burst indices of the papersheets were observed for flax pulp treated with additives of Paraloid B-72 + ZnO NP (1%), Chitosan + ZnO NP (3%), and Chitosan + NCL (3%) at levels of 59.93 N·m/g, 18.45 mN·m2/g, and 6.47 kPa·m2/g, respectively. Chitosan + ZnO NP (1%) added to flax pulp showed the highest fungal mycelial inhibition (FMI) (1.85%) against Aspergillus flavus. Chitosan + Ag NP (1%) exhibited the highest FMI percentage (11.48%) when added to pulp against A. terreus. Pulp treated with Paraloid B-72 + Ag NP (1%) exhibited the highest activity against Stemphylium solani with an FMI value of 3.7%. The results indicate that the technological properties of the papersheets were enhanced with the addition of novel mixtures to the pulp.

• Klíčová slova
• flax papersheets, fungal inhibition, mechanical properties, nanoparticles, optical properties,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is grown for fiber and seed in many countries. Flax cultivars differ in the oil composition and, depending on the ratio of fatty acids, are used in pharmaceutical, food, or paint industries. It is known that genes of SAD (stearoyl-ACP desaturase) and FAD (fatty acid desaturase) families play a key role in the synthesis of fatty acids, and some alleles of these genes are associated with a certain composition of flax oil. However, data on genetic polymorphism of these genes are still insufficient. RESULTS: On the basis of the collection of the Institute for Flax (Torzhok, Russia), we formed a representative set of 84 cultivars and lines reflecting the diversity of fatty acid composition of flax oil. An approach for the determination of full-length sequences of SAD1, SAD2, FAD2A, FAD2B, FAD3A, and FAD3B genes using the Illumina platform was developed and deep sequencing of the 6 genes in 84 flax samples was performed on MiSeq. The obtained high coverage (about 400x on average) enabled accurate assessment of polymorphisms in SAD1, SAD2, FAD2A, FAD2B, FAD3A, and FAD3B genes and evaluation of cultivar/line heterogeneity. The highest level of genetic diversity was observed for FAD3A and FAD3B genes - 91 and 62 polymorphisms respectively. Correlation analysis revealed associations between particular variants in SAD and FAD genes and predominantly those fatty acids whose conversion they catalyze: SAD - stearic and oleic acids, FAD2 - oleic and linoleic acids, FAD3 - linoleic and linolenic acids. All except one low-linolenic flax cultivars/lines contained both the substitution of tryptophan to stop codon in the FAD3A gene and histidine to tyrosine substitution in the FAD3B gene, while samples with only one of these polymorphisms had medium content of linolenic acid and cultivars/lines without them were high-linolenic. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic polymorphism of SAD and FAD genes was evaluated in the collection of flax cultivars and lines with diverse oil composition, and associations between particular polymorphisms and the ratio of fatty acids were revealed. The achieved results are the basis for the development of marker-assisted selection and DNA-based certification of flax cultivars.

• Klíčová slova
• Deep sequencing, Desaturases, FAD, Fatty acids, Flax, Genetic diversity, Linum usitatissimum L., Polymorphism, SAD,
• MeSH
• desaturasy mastných kyselin genetika   MeSH
• DNA rostlinná MeSH
• genetická heterogenita MeSH
• genetická variace * MeSH
• kyselina alfa-linolenová metabolismus   MeSH
• len enzymologie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mastné kyseliny metabolismus   MeSH
• oxygenasy se smíšenou funkcí genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• rostlinné geny MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• substituce aminokyselin MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• acyl-(acyl-carrier-protein)desaturase MeSH Prohlížeč
• desaturasy mastných kyselin MeSH
• DNA rostlinná MeSH
• kyselina alfa-linolenová MeSH
• mastné kyseliny MeSH
• oxygenasy se smíšenou funkcí MeSH

Cadmium (Cd) is classified as a serious pollutant due to its high toxicity, high carcinogenicity, and widespread presence in the environment. Phytoremediation represents an effective low-cost approach for removing pollutants from contaminated soils, and a crop with significant phytoremediation potential is flax. However, significant differences in Cd accumulation and tolerance were previously found among commercial flax cultivars. Notably, cv. Jitka showed substantially higher tolerance to elevated Cd levels in soil and plant tissues than cv. Tábor. Here, significant changes in the expression of 14 proteins (related to disease/defense, metabolism, protein destination and storage, signal transduction, energy and cell structure) were detected by image and mass spectrometric analysis of two-dimensionally separated proteins extracted from Cd-treated cell suspension cultures derived from these contrasting cultivars. Further, two proteins, ferritin and glutamine synthetase (a key enzyme in glutathione biosynthesis), were only up-regulated by Cd in cv. Jitka, indicating that Cd tolerance mechanisms in this cultivar may include maintenance of low Cd levels at sensitive sites by ferritin and low-molecular weight thiol peptides binding Cd. The identified changes could facilitate marker-assisted breeding for Cd tolerance and the development of transgenic flax lines with enhanced Cd tolerance and accumulation capacities for phytoremediating Cd-contaminated soils.

• MeSH
• 2D gelová elektroforéza metody   MeSH
• kadmium farmakologie   MeSH
• len metabolismus   MeSH
• proteom účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteomika metody   MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• spektrometrie hmotnostní - ionizace laserem za účasti matrice MeSH
• viabilita buněk MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kadmium MeSH
• proteom MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny MeSH