Tomsk 18 is a variety of flax (Linum usitatissimum L. f. elongata) belonging to the early-maturing group with a vegetation period of 76–86 days. It is intended for the production of flax fiber and is characterized by high yield: up to 12.2 c/ha for seeds and 13.6 c/ha for fiber, while the yield of long fiber is 12.2 c/ha or 71%. Flax of this variety has light blue petals, brown seeds, and lacks false septum fringing. In terms of fiber quality, the variety belongs to the second group, demonstrating a No. 15 long fiber with 32–36% content in stems.
The Tomsk 18 variety is distinguished by resistance to lodging and major diseases such as rust and fusarium, which ensures crop stability and high product quality. Thanks to these characteristics, it is included in the State Register for the Volga-Vyatka, West Siberian, and East Siberian regions, confirming its adaptation to various climatic conditions.
Additionally, flax, including varieties such as Tomsk 18, is widely used in medical practice. Flax seeds contain a significant amount of fat oil (30-48%), including glycerides of linolenic, linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids, as well as mucilage, protein, carbohydrates, organic acids, enzymes, vitamins, and sterols. These components make the seeds an effective anti-inflammatory agent for gastritis and enterocolitis, and also help in the elimination of radionuclides from the body. Flax oil is used in dietary nutrition for disorders of fat metabolism, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, and hepatitis. Linetol is obtained from flax oil and is used to treat atherosclerosis, radiation skin damage, as well as chemical and thermal burns.
