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Assignment 7: Revised Wikipedia Assignment 12/8/15

Indigofera is a varied genus that has shown unique characteristics that make it an interesting candidate as a potential perennial crop. Specifically, there is diverse variation among species with a number of unique characteristics. Some examples of this diversity include differences in pericarp thickness, fruit type, and flowering morphology. The unique characteristics it has displayed include potential for mixed smallholder systems with a least one other species and a resilience that allows for constant nitrogen update despite varying conditions.

Indigofera is a diverse genus that also shows some unique characteristics in its flowering morphology. For example, one unique characteristic of Indigofera is that it demonstrates an open carpel not seen among many species. In addition, it appears that the organ primordial is often formed at deeper layers than other eudicots This variety in flowering morphology including unique characteristics such as an open carpel could have significant implications on its role in an actual perennial polyculture. For example, different flowering morphologies could be artificially selected for in varying directions in order to better fit in different environmental conditions and with different populations of other plants.

The types of fruit produced by different species of Indigofera can also be divided into broad categories that again show great variation. The three basic types of fruit categories can be separated by their curvature including straight, slightly curved, and falcate. In addition, several of the species including I. microcarpa, I. suffruticosa, and I. enneaphylla have shown delayed dehiscent fruits This variety of fruit could again allow for artificial selection that would allow the most abundant and nutritious fruit types and shapes to be selected for.

Another way to categorize Indigofera is by its pericarp thickness. The pericarp can be categorized as type I, type II, and type III with type I having the thinnest pericarp and fewest layers of schlerenchymatous layers and type III having the thickest pericarp and most layers of schlerenchymatous layers. Despite, the previous examples of delayed dehiscent fruits most fruits of this genus show normal explosive dehiscence to disperse seeds Similar to fruit shape, a variety of fruit sizes allows for traits to be selected for that would allow for the thickest and most bountiful fruits especially when paired with fruit shape.

Indigofera has also shown promise in mixed smallholder systems. It is suggested that mixing multipurpose trees and shrub legumes could have implications on soil preservation and nitrogen levels. Specifically, a mixture of Calliandra houstoniana and Indigofera zollingeriana has shown a relationship that could help to minimize nitrogen loss in soil This brief example shows the potential roles that Indigofera could have in a shared environment while mimicking a natural prairie.

Indigofera has also shown to be a resilient and adaptive genus in response to changing environments. For example, in Indigofera spinosa, it has been observed that despite varying levels of water, nitrogen uptake remained constant. This suggests that despite water stresses decreasing root mass, the remaining roots’ uptake actually increases nitrogen uptake in order to compensate for lost mass and keep uptake constant This trait demonstrates the adaptability of Indigofera as a species that shows its resilience and more importantly a practical application that could be applied to a wide range of environmental habitats.