1 GERMPLASM COLLECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NATURAL DYE-YIELDING PLANTS

A study to identify and collect the sources of natural dyes that were used by hand cloth weavers in Namarabar, Peñarubia, Abra. The members of the Agaid Family headed by Mr. Luis Agaid and her sister Norma Agaid were chosen as the respondents of the study due to the existence of local indigenous knowledge and skills, willingness and enthusiasm of the informants to share their expertise in the native weaving industry, and accessibility of the place for proper coordination with the researchers. Results have shown that the used of indigenous knowledge and skills in color extraction, cloth dyeing, embroidery, and weaving was already a technology of the Agaid Family in the afore-cited place. It is also a sort of livelihood to sustain their meager income in subsistence farming. Furthermore, hand weaving and cloth dyeing practices are maintained to preserve the indigenous culture and tradition of the Tingguians particularly the Inlaod tribe. From the findings and experiences of the respondents, nineteen (19) species were identified with the researchers as sources of natural dyes. Thirteen (13) were trees, four herbs, one edible shrubs and one medicinal vine. Aside from sources of natural dyes, some of the species have economic values; sustain food for human and domesticated animals, provide construction materials, and used in medicinal preparation. The identification and description of the specie by their common, scientific, and family names are cited in the discussion of results. Of the nineteen identified natural dye-yielding plants, thirteen were propagated at the germplasm site of ASIST Main Campus. The researchers learned the indigenous method of color extraction from the respondents while the new technology of natural dye production was formulated by the Katutubong Kulay Project and the PTRI Laboratory in Metro Manila. The new technology is transforming the liquid form of natural dye into powder form. I. RATIONALE Abra is a province inhabited by rich cultural traditions and ethnic groups. It is a place of wide vast of rich environment and natural resources. It is located at the norther