Effects of certain mineral fertilizers on the biological mass of Indigofera Tinctoria and Impatiens Balsamina plants

The article describes the effect of mineral fertilizers on the cultivation of dyed Indigofera (Indigofera tinctoria L.) and henna (Impatiens balsamina L), the amount of their application and the ratio of basic nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) related. It has been established that the adequate development of Indigofera and henna plants depends on the ratio of mineral fertilizers used.

The role of organic fertilizer from natural dye waste and mycorrhizal inoculation on the growth of Indigofera tinctoria L.

Management of Indigofera tinctoria as a natural dye produces organic waste that has not been utilized. One of the proper managements of organic waste is to process it into organic fertilizer. This study examines the role of organic fertilizer waste and mycorrhizae on the growth and yield of Indigofera tinctoria. The study used a completely randomized block design with two factors: organic waste fertilizer and mycorrhizae. The results showed that organic fertilizers and mycorrhizae did not affect the net assimilation and leaf area indexes. The combination of organic fertilizers with mycorrhizae supports leaf growth. The combination of 400 g.plant−1 organic fertilizer and 10 g.plant−1 mycorrhizal fertilizer increased the number of leaves by 257%. Organic fertilizer has a significant effect on the fresh weight of the crown, fresh weight and root biomass. Organic fertilizer dose of 200 g.plant−1 increased fresh root weight, root biomass and fresh crown weight by 68.5%, 68.29% and 63.27% respectively. Mycorrhizae 10 g.plant−1 increased root length by 23.54%. Leaf growth correlated with length, fresh weight and root biomass. Organic fertilizer from the extraction of Indigofera tinctoria is an effort to achieve zero waste to support plant growth.

Predicting Species Distribution for True Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria L.) in Citarum Watershed, West Java, Indonesia

Citarum watershed is a region of approximately 6,610 km2 in West Java, Indonesia. Citarum watershed has been degraded through historical land use and vegetation clearing. Rehabilitation of Citarum watershed uses Indigofera tinctoria L. that has value as a source of natural blue dye and is considered suitable for the region. Species distribution modelling and Habitat suitability index (SDM/HSI) were undertaken for I. tinctoria. The occurrence and environment data (bioclimatic, topography, and soil type) were input to HSI. Results of the Indigofera tinctoria habitat suitability model in Citarum watershed are very good (0.9–1) for some parts of the Citarum watershed. The medium and high suitability areas were respectively 4.49% and 4.37% of the area were located in the lowlands (Bekasi Regency and Karawang Regency). Prediction based on climate modelling for 2050 and 2070 estimated that the medium-high suitability area of Indigofera tinctoria will be reduced relative to the present.

Anthelmintic effect of Indigofera tinctoria L on Haemonchus contortus obtained from sheep in Indonesia

Background and Aim: Hemonchosis has resulted in huge economic losses for sheep farmers worldwide. Secondary metabolite compounds from Indigofera tinctoria L. can be used as anthelmintics. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of I. tinctoria L. aqueous extract (IAE) as an anthelmintic against adult Haemonchus contortus isolated from sheep. Materials and Methods: Ten active adult worms were placed in each Petri dish containing 25 mL of IAE, each having a different concentration of IAE (at concentrations 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, and 220 mg/mL). Each experiment was repeated. The positive control used 1% albendazole, and the negative control used 0.62% saline water. The number of immobile worms and the time of mortality were recorded after 2, 4, 6, and 8 h. The dead worms were subsequently tested using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the in vivo study, 15 sheep with an average fecal egg count (FEC) of 1000 eggs per gram were treated with IAE for 9 days: Group A (negative control, saline water 0.62%), Group B (21 mg/mL), Group C (41 mg/mL), Group D (62 mg/mL), and Group E (positive control, albendazole 100 mg/mL). Measurements of the body weight, FEC reduction test, and hematology testing were performed on days 0, 7, and 14. SEM was performed using worms found from the abomasum of slaughtered sheep. Results: The leaves of I. tinctoria L. contained a number of secondary metabolites, including total tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The most effective concentration that killed the adult H. contortus worms was 220 mg/mL (93.33% mortality) after 8 h of treatment. The electrophoresis results showed that the protein band at a dose of 22% was less than that of the control. The highest FECR value of the treatment group on the 14th day after treatment was at a dose of 62 mg/mL. The highest weight gain as well as the highest increased hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and total erythrocyte count (TEC) values on the 14th day after treatment were at a dose of 41 mg/mL. The SEM results showed that IAE treatment caused the worms' anterior parts to become wrinkled with thick creases and cuticle abrasion (in vitro) and the anterior part to shrink along with the presence of aggregates in the worm cuticle (in vivo). Conclusion: The aqueous extract of I. tinctoria contains tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids and has an anthelmintic effect with decreased FEC, increased weight gain, Hb, PCV, and TEC, causing damage to the worms' body and reducing the protein profile of adult H. contortus worms.

Underwater archaeobotany: plant and wood analyses from the Vrouw Maria, a 1771 shipwreck in the Finnish Baltic Sea

Archaeobotanical analyses together with historical records can provide unique information about the cargoes and histories of sunken ships, which are found as wrecks at the bottom of the seas all over the world. An interdisciplinary research project was undertaken on the Vrouw Maria (Lady Mary), a Dutch wooden two-masted merchant ship that sank on October 9th in 1771 in the Finnish Baltic Sea. She rested at a depth of 41 m and was in good condition when discovered. Based on written sources and archaeological research, the ship was carrying a valuable cargo including, for example, sugar, dyes, cloth, porcelain, wood and goods that the Russian nobility had ordered. Among them were paintings that the Russian Empress Catherine the Great (1729–1796) had bought at an auction in Amsterdam. Samples from four wooden barrels and from one wooden packing crate among the ship’s cargo were investigated. Botanical analysis revealed products such as stimulants, dyes and fruits originating from the Mediterranean, India, Africa and South America. One of the most intriguing finds from the cargo was Indigofera tinctoria L. (true indigo), a valuable dye plant. Our paper presents the botanical data analysed from the barrels and summarizes the plants mentioned in the historical records on the cargo of the Vrouw Maria.

Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Powder As A Promising Additive To Improve Indigo Fermentation Prepared With Sukumo (Composted Polygonum Tinctorium Leaves)

Being insoluble in the oxidize form, indigo dye must be solubilized by reduction for it to penetrate textile. One of the procedures is the reduction by natural bacterial fermentation. Sukumo, composted leaves of Polygonum tinctorium, is a natural source of indigo in Japan. Although sukumo has an intrinsic bacterial seed, the onset of indigo reduction with this material may vary greatly. Certain additives improve indigo fermentation. Here, we studied the effects of Indigofera tinctoria leaf powder (LP) on the initiation of indigo reduction, bacterial community, redox potential (ORP), and dyeing intensity in the initial stages and in aged fermentation fluids prepared with sukumo. I. tinctoria LP markedly decreased ORP at day 1 and stabilised it during early fermentation. These effects could be explained by the phytochemicals present in I. tinctoria LP that act as oxygen scavengers and electron mediators. Using next generation sequencing results, we observed differences in the bacterial community in sukumo fermentation treated with I. tinctoria LP, which was not influenced by the bacterial community in I. tinctoria LP per se. The concomitant decrease in Bacillaceae and increase in Proteinivoraceae at the onset of fermentation and the ratio of facultative to obligate anaerobes are vital to the for initiation and maintenance of indigo reduction. Hence, I. tinctoria LP improved early indigo reduction by decreasing the ORP and hasten the appropriate transitions in the bacterial community in sukumo fermentation.