Evaluation of methanolic crude extract of Linum usitatissimum for the removal of biofilm in diabetic foot isolates

Linum usitatissimum L is a widely used traditionally for multiple ailments. The present research was carried out to explore the antimicrobial, and anti-biofilm activity of crude extract of Linum usitatissimum L (Lu. Cr). Phytochemical and proximate analyses were performed. The bandages of diabetic foot patients were collected from the various hospitals. The bandages were cultured to isolate the bacterial strains present on it. The disc diffusion method was used to identify the antimicrobial potential whereas the minimum inhibitory concentration of the Lu.Cr were also determined. Proximate analysis confirms moisture content 8.33%, ash content 4.33%, crude protein 21.20%, crude fat 49.2% and crude fiber 5.63%. It was revealed that Gram-positive bacteria are most prevalent among all study groups. Lu.Cr possess significant bactericidal potential against S. aureus among all other microbes. Owing to this potential, linseed coated bandages can be used alternatively for the treatment of diabetic foot.

IMPACT OF ORGANIC AND BIOFERTILIZER APPLICATION ON YIELD AND YIELD ATTRIBUTING CHARACTERS IN LINSEED (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) belongs to family Linaceae, is the second most important rabi oilseed crop and stands next to rapeseed – mustard in area of cultivation and seed production in India. Flaxseed is grown as either oil crop or a fibre crop with fibre linen derived from the stem of fibre varieties and oil from the seed of linseed varieties. Several studies have been conducted on effect of fertilizers on growth and yield of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) varieties which revealed their enhancing role on the quality and quantity of flax cultivars. In this regards, a present study was planned and conducted during the Rabi season of 2020-2021 in the Agricultural field of School of Agricultural Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India to investigate the effect of organic and biofertilizer and integrated treatment on the growth and yield of Linseed. The findings were reported on important growth and yield attributed parameters such as plant height, total fresh weight, total yield, 1000- seed weight (g), and number of seed / capsules. The maximum growth and yield was reported in T6 treatment where biofertilizer have been applied in consortium form followed by vermicompost. Thus, the findings revealed that all the microbial strains in consortia used as bio fertilizers showed enhanced tern of vegetative growth of plants, total herbage yield and total seed yield at various stages. This may be due to sustained release of nutrients to supply the required elements in microbial strains. The biofertilizers exhibited beneficial effects on plant growth and development either through producing growth hormones like IAA, kinetin and gibberellins, synthesizing atmospheric nitrogen and its increased availability to greater protein synthesis as well as increasing Phosphorus availability to plant communities. Thus, it was concluded that the enhanced expression of yield and its related attributes will have beneficial impact in production of nutraceutical products of commercial importance.

Eco-friendly soil amendments improve growth, antioxidant activities, and root colonization in lingrain (Linum Usitatissimum L.) under drought conditions

This study’s primary purpose was to investigate the possible amelioration of limited irrigation conditions by mycorrhiza (AMF), vermicompost, and green manure for lingrain plants. This experiment was accomplished as a factorial based on the completely randomized design with three replications. The first factor was green manure (without green manure and with Trifolium pratense as green manure); the second factor consisted of Rhizophagus irregularis mycorrhiza, vermicompost, a combination of mycorrhiza and vermicompost and none of them, and also the third factor was irrigation regime (full irrigation and late-season water limitation). Green manure, vermicompost, and mycorrhiza single-use enhanced the plant’s underwater limitation conditions compared to the control. However, vermicompost and green manure or mycorrhiza developed a positive synergistic effect on most traits. Combining green manure with the dual fertilizer (mycorrhiza + vermicompost) resulted in the vermicompost and mycorrhiza synergistic effects, especially under limited irrigation. Consequently, the combination of green manure, mycorrhiza, and vermicompost experienced the highest amount of leaf relative water content, root colonization, leaf nitrogen, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, antioxidant enzymes activity, grain yield, and oil yield, which would lead to more resistance of plants to limited irrigation conditions.

Análisis de la sustentabilidad ecológica de distintas estrategias de manejo de malezas en el cultivo de lino oleaginoso (Linum usitatissimum L.) en Argentina

El lino se cultiva generalmente bajo un enfoque productivista, altamente dependiente de insumos externos, modelo que ha causado importantes problemas ecológicos. Entre ellos están los asociados con las malezas cuyo control se realiza principalmente con herbicidas. Ante esta realidad es necesario incorporar estrategias de manejo de malezas que mejoren la sustentabilidad de los agroecosistemas. Se comparó la sustentabilidad ecológica del control de malezas con herbicida respecto al manejo con alta densidad de lino y/o su intercultivo con Trifolium pratense L. En este trabajo se ajustaron y aplicaron algunos indicadores como: diversidad vegetal, % de cobertura de suelo, residuo remanente, materia seca restituida al suelo, % de residuo remanente, uso de herbicida, balance de nitrógeno, eficiencia energética y biomasa vegetal. La metodología usada fue adecuada y fácil de aplicar al objetivo del trabajo. Se observó que el control de malezas en el lino con herbicida fue la práctica de menor aporte a la sustentabilidad, por lo cual si se continúa en el largo plazo con dicha práctica se verá comprometida la misma. Mientras que el intercultivo fue ecológicamente más sustentable que el monocultivo, con puntos más favorables para sustentabilidad sin uso de herbicida, independientemente de la densidad de lino. Esto ocurrió tanto por una mejor conservación de la capacidad productiva del agroecosistema como por ejercer un menor impacto sobre el ambiente externo al mismo. Del presente trabajo surge que existen alternativas al control con herbicidas para el manejo de malezas en lino como es el caso del intercultivo con trébol rojo.

Evaluation of Hypolipidemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of Linum usitatissimum L. Seeds on Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Background: Hyperlipidaemia is a chronic progressive disease, which encompasses various genetic and acquired conditions resulting in inappropriately elevated lipid levels in humans. Several preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that dietary supplementation with Linum Usitatissimum have beneficial cardiovascular effects like antihypertensive action, antiatherogenic effects, lowering of cholesterol, anti-inflammatory action and inhibition of arrhythmia. There are few studies on hepatoprotective effects of flax seeds in hyperlipidemic animal models. Aim and objectives: Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effect of Linum seeds. Methods: The study was conducted for the period of two months in Department of Pharmacology KIMS, Bhubaneswar. Total 36 Albino wistar rats were taken and divided into 6 groups containing 6 rats each. Group II was hypercholesterolemic (HC) control, Group III was treatment control and Group IV to VI rats were given different doses of extract. Blood samples were taken at the end of two months. Results: All the values are expressed as Mean±SD (standard deviation). Significant decrease in lipid parameters and liver enzymes is seen at the end of two months in all 3 groups receiving the extract, where the highest dose of extract used, is near to the standard drug. Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that the addition of the flaxseeds to the diet may alleviate the rise in circulating cholesterol levels induced by the high cholesterol diet through its content of alfa-linolenic acid (ALA) and lignins. The hepatoprotective role of flaxseed in hypercholesterolaemia has also been demonstrated in this this study.

Genes Associated with the Flax Plant Type (Oil or Fiber) Identified Based on Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing Data

As a result of the breeding process, there are two main types of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) plants. Linseed is used for obtaining seeds, while fiber flax is used for fiber production. We aimed to identify the genes associated with the flax plant type, which could be important for the formation of agronomically valuable traits. A search for polymorphisms was performed in genes involved in the biosynthesis of cell wall components, lignans, fatty acids, and ion transport based on genome sequencing data for 191 flax varieties. For 143 of the 424 studied genes (4CL, C3′H, C4H, CAD, CCR, CCoAOMT, COMT, F5H, HCT, PAL, CTL, BGAL, ABC, HMA, DIR, PLR, UGT, TUB, CESA, RGL, FAD, SAD, and ACT families), one or more polymorphisms had a strong correlation with the flax type. Based on the transcriptome sequencing data, we evaluated the expression levels for each flax type-associated gene in a wide range of tissues and suggested genes that are important for the formation of linseed or fiber flax traits. Such genes were probably subjected to the selection press and can determine not only the traits of seeds and stems but also the characteristics of the root system or resistance to stresses at a particular stage of development, which indirectly affects the ability of flax plants to produce seeds or fiber.

Studies on Correlation and Path Analysis in Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Over Locations in Mid-hills of North-Western Himalayas

Background: Seed yield is a very important trait for selection but shows low heritability and hence is difficult to improve. Since the productivity of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) in India as well as Himachal Pradesh is low in comparison to other major linseed growing countries and states, improvement in cultivars for grain yield is a must. Therefore, the present study was aimed for studying the character associations in linseed genotypes for seed yield over locations. Method: The experiment was conducted during rabi 2019-2020. The experimental material for the present investigation comprised of 52 linseed genotypes grown over three locations in Himachal Pradesh i.e. Linseed Experimental Farm, CSK HPKV, Palampur (1290 m amsl), Shivalik Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Kangra (700 m amsl) and Hill Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Dhaulakuan (468 m amsl). Randomized block design with three replications was used. Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients were worked out as per the procedure outlined by Burton and De Vane (1953) and Johnson et al. (1955). Direct and indirect effects of component traits on grain yield were worked out using correlation coefficient of various traits as suggested by Wright (1921) and elaborated by Dewey and Lu (1959). Result: Correlation studies indicated highly significant positive correlation for seed yield with 1000 seed weight (0.965**) followed by harvest index (0.801**), secondary branches (0.585**) and a significant correlation with biological yield (0.269**). Seed yield exhibited a non-significant positive correlation with seeds per capsule. However, a negative significant correlation was observed for seed yield with days to 50 per cent flowering and number of primary branches. The path coefficient analysis indicated that 1000 seed weight exhibited maximum positive direct effect with seed yield (0.741) while others had a low direct effect. The significant positive correlation of number of secondary branches and harvest index with seed yield was mainly due to indirect effect via 1000 seed weight indicating that 1000 seed weight is the most important trait for the improvement of grain yield in linseed as per the present study.