*4.3.1 Genetic engineering*

In order to improve antibacterial properties of flax fibers, researchers applied genetic engineering to modify plant DNA [32]. Transgenic flax plants overproducing

**Figure 6.** *Dew retted flax fibers activity toward staphylococcus aureus bacteria.*

**Figure 7.** *Dew retted hemp fibers activity toward staphylococcus aureus bacteria.*

#### **Figure 8.**

*Comparison of antibacterial capacity of flax fibers.*

compounds from phenylpropanoid pathway accumulate phenolic derivatives of potential antioxidative and, thus, antimicrobial activity. The researchers showed that the extract alkali hydrolyzed seedcake had antibacterial activity, which might be useful as a prophylactic against bacterial infection.

Although the GMO plant modification is not allowed in Europe due to the strategy "Europe free from GMO," studies on fibrous plant genetic engineering are very limited.
