Studies on dyeing of Gomphrena globosa L. for value addition

Present investigation was conducted in the floral craft laboratory of the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Y.S.P. University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, to standardize the dyeing treatment for Gomphrena globosa L. dried flowers of Gomphrena globosa ‘White’ (GGW) were used for dyeing purpose with three replications in a completely randomized block design with factorial concept. Four different types of dyes viz. food, fabric, organic and indicator dyes were used in three different concentrations viz. 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% while organic dyes were used @ 2.5% and 5% concentration. Flowers were either dyed alone in dye solution or with addition of a pinch of mordants i.e. salt or aluminum sulphate. Various observations for qualities of dyed flowers on the basis of quality parameters like colour absorption, consistency/strength of colour, light fastness, rubbing fastness and wash fastness were taken under study and was found that fabric dye was best for dyeing the dried flowers of GGW followed by indicator, food and organic dyes. In case of fabric dyes, maximum score (18.04) out of a total of 25 was allotted to Yellow fabric dye; Metanil Yellow (13.83) in case of indicator dye; Orange Red (14.27) in case of food dye and Curcuma longa (14.96) in case of organic dyes scored well. Yellow fabric dyes was found to be suitable based on different quality parameters. Indicator dyes like Crystal Violet and Eosin Yellow was found to be suitable with the addition of mordants.