Natural thalli and cultured mycobiont of Usnea ghattensis G. Awasthi- A potential source of purple dye yielding lichen from India

摘要

Usnea ghtattensis G. Awasthi and its cultured mycobiont were used to extract dye for silk fibre, using ammonia fermentation, boiling water and cow urine methods. Both natural thalli as well as lichen cultured mycobiont yield a Purple dye from ammonia fermentation method, while the other two methods produced light shade of colours. The dyed silk threads were evaluated for fastness properties by some treatments like effect of sunlight and detergent. Both natural lichen and cultured mycobiont dyes yield fast colour to the fibre.