Browsing by Author "Dissanayake, P.K."

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    Effect of Coloured Cellophane Shading on Seed Germination, Plant Growth and Fruit Quality Characteristics of Tomato (Solanunt lycopersicum L.)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Sugathapala, D.H.D,M,; Dissanayake, P.K.; Wekumbura, W.G.C.
    In urban agriculture there are trends to grow crops tinder different colour shading. Colour of light differently affect on plant growth and biochemical properties of plant. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of coloured shading on seed germination, plant growth, fruit quality and fruit yield of tomato (Solarium lycopersicum L). Yellow, red, green, blue coloured cellophane and transparent cellophane (control) were used in the experiment. To evaluate quality of fruits two experiments were conducted in a polythene house with Complete Randomized Design; (1) whole fruit covered by coloured cellophane and (2) whole plant covered by coloured cellophane. The coloured cellophane shading differently affected on seed germination, growth, fruit quality and yield of tomato. The highest seed germination was observed in yellow colour (93.47%) and the lowest at green (73.25%) at day 6th of germination. At one month after transplanting highest and lowest plant height (24.5 cm, 13.5 cm) and number of leaves (8, 7) were found in yellow and green, respectively. The highest leaf area (20.07 cm2) and plant fresh weight (4.83 g) were found in control; whereas, the lowest was found in green (4.34 cm2, 0.74 g, respectively). The highest fruit weight (35.13 g) and length (3.97 cm) were found in the fruits covered by green cellophane; whereas, the lowest (24.74 g, 3.20 cm) in the blue (Experiment 01). The highest Brix value was found in red and the lowest from yellow. Ascorbic acid content was highest in yellow colour (90 ing/100m1) but lowest in green colour (30 mg/100m1). In the experiment 2, blue cellophane recorded the highest fruit weight (51.10 g), and size; whereas, the control recorded the lowest. Brix value was higher in control and the lowest in blue colour. Fruit peel thickness was higher in red (0.65 cm) and lowest in blue (0.51 cm). The highest Ascorbic acid content was recorded in yellow colour (121.25 mg), whereas the lowest in blue (57.5 mg). Finally, it can be concluded that yellow colour is the most effective on accelerating seed germination and control treatment is better for vegetative growth of the plant. To have high ascorbic acid content whole plant should be covered with yellow cellophane, but when it consider yield, blue cellophane is the best.
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    Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activities of Selected Tropical Underutilized Fruits
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Chathurangi, R.P.D.D.; Wathsara, H.P.T.; Samarakoon, K.W.; Ranasinghe, P.; Dissanayake, P.K.
    Fruits are rich sources of bioactive compounds as majority of them have antioxidant properties. The objectives of this study were to screen particular phytochemicals and to determine the antioxidant properties of selected fruit species, namely Cynometra cauliflora, Psidium cattleianum, Annona squamosa and Diospyros discolor. Phytochemical screening was done using colourimetric qualitative analysis to screen phenol, flavonoid, tannin, alkaloid and saponin. Cynometra cauliflora seed and Psidium cattleianum fruit extracts were positive for all the tested phytochemicals. Antioxidant properties of fruit extracts were determined by in vitro antioxidant assays using 96 well micro plates. Total Phenolic Content, Total Flavonoid Content, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity were determined by using standard procedures. All values of antioxidant properties were significantly different for the tested fruits (p < 0.05). The highest total phenolic content value was recorded for Cynometra cauliflora seed (306±1.64 mg of Gallic Acid Equivalents per g of extract) while the lowest value was recorded for Annona squamosa (19.17±4.78 Gallic Acid Equivalents per g of extract). The highest total flavonoid content value was shown by Psidium cattleianum (4.76±0.19 Quercetin Equivalents per g of extract) while the lowest value was shown by Diospyros discolor (0.35±0.02 Quercetin Equivalants g-1 of extract). The highest ferric reducing antioxidant power value was shown by Cynometra cauliflora seed (685.38±1.63 Trolox Equivalents per g of extract) while the lowest value was shown by Cynometra cauliflora pericarp (30.74±1.3 Trolox Equivalents per g of extract). The highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity value was recorded for Psidium cattleianum (549.79±6.91 Trolox Equivalents per g of extract) and the lowest value was recorded by Annona squamosa (33.57±0.31 Trolox Equivalents per g of extract). Overall results of the study revealed Cynometra cauliflora seed, Cynometra cauliflora pericarp, Psidium cattleianum, Annona squamosa and Diospyros discolor extracts posses antioxidant properties and in general Cynometra cauliflora seed and Psidium cattleianum have high antioxidant properties.