Teas and Yeast Boost Oil Content

Effect of Dry Yeast and Compost Tea on Growth and Oil Content of Borago Officinalis Plant
Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 2010
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      Borage is a common flower whose oils contain several beneficial substances that are used in natural and modern medicine.   A group of scientists in Egypt wanted to see if they could increase Borage's growth and oil content with the aid of dry yeast and compost tea. 
       The experiment was carried out over two years in Giza, Egypt.  There were 5 groups of plants tested: (1) plants  watered with  compost tea, (2) plants foliar sprayed with compost tea, (3) plants  foliar sprayed with a liquid solution made from dry yeast and water, (4)  plants foliar  sprayed with tea and also foliar sprayed with yeast, (5) plants foliar sprayed with yeast and watered with comost tea.  The plants were compared to a control group that did not receive tea or yeast, though was fertilized and watered similarly.  
      The Egyptian scientists found that compost tea applications  "significantly increased plant height (cm), fresh and dry weight of aerial parts and flowers (g/plant)".  Foliar spraying yeast increased "values of fresh weight of aerial parts, number of suckers, seed weight and oil%".  In both years, the scientists found that the combination of both watering in compost tea and foliar spraying yeast was the most beneficial. 
      Not only did the plants grow more productively, but the levels of beneficial substances like alpha-linolenic acid and campesterol significantly increased as well.   This is the kind of information you take back to the herb garden and share with all your friends. 

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