Browsing by Author "Seneviratne, K.A.C.N."

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    Effect of using Biofilmed Biofertilizer to Control the Tip Burning and Leaf Spot Diseases of Dracaena sanderiana and Cordyline fruticosa
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Udagedara, U.M.C.S.; Kaliyadasa, P.E.; Premathilake, U.G.A.T.; Seneviratne, K.A.C.N.; Seneviratne, G.
    Draceana sanderiana and Cordyline fruticosa are highly demanding cut foliages in foliage industry. Due to its perishable nature in foliage, it is highly susceptible to pest and pathogens which causes loss of appearance and thereby reduce the ornamental value of the plants. Tip Burning, Leaf Spots, Fusarium stem and root rot are some of the major diseases in these plants. High amount of fertilizer and agro chemicals are used to improve the growth of the plants and to control the pest and disease problems. It is an extra cost in floriculture sector and also reduces the quality of the products. Biofilmed Biofertilizer (BFBF) is a cost effective and environmentally friendly bio-fertilizer type. Most importantly it suppresses the pathogens through improved biodiversity and acts as a biological control agent. The research was conducted to identify the possibility of using BFBF to control the Tip Burning and Leaf Spot diseases of Dracaena sanderiana "white", Dracaena sanderiana "gold" and Cordyline fruticosa. Grow More fertilizer was used as the chemical fertilizer in 2.5 g/1 concentration and Biofilmed- F was used in 1: 15 ratio by volume. Five treatments were used namely BFBF alone, full strength chemical fertilizer only, half strength chemical fertilizer only, BFBF with half strength chemical fertilizer and Distilled water as control. The study revealed that the application of BFBF alone is more effective in controlling the Tip Burning and Leaf Spot diseases of Dracaena sanderiana "gold" and Leaf Spots in Dracaena sanderiana "white". Application of BFBF with half strength chemical fertilizer is more effective in controlling both diseases of Cordyline fruticosa and controlling Tip Burning of Dracaena sanderiana "white" when compared to the use of chemical fertilizer alone. In overall, BFBF with half strength chemical fertilizer is more effective in controlling the Tip Burning and Leaf Spot diseases of Dracaena sanderiana and Cordylinefruticosa while promoting a better growth. Keywords: Dracaena sanderiana, Cordyline fruticosa, Biofilmed Biofertilizer, Tip Burning, Leaf Spots
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    Selection of an effective biofilmed biofertilizer formulation and best potting medium for anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2015) Rathnayake, R.M.D.C.; Gunadasa, H.K.S.G.; Jayasinghe, H.A.S.L.; Seneviratne, K.A.C.N.
    Anthurium is identified as one of the crops prioritized for the development and export promotion in Sri Lanka (Kelegama, 2001). Optimum growth and flowering of Anthurium mainly depend on potting medium, fertilizer and light levels (Higaki et al, 1994). Potting medium rich in nutrients and effective fertilizers can be used for the optimum growth of this plant. Beneficial biofilm based biofertilizers called biofilmed biofertilizers (BFBFs) have been introduced recently (Seneviratne et al., 2010). Present study was focused to select an effective biofilmed biofertilizer formulation and evaluate the comparative effect of different potting media on vegetative growth of Anthurium andreanum plant. Methodology The present study was carried out at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. Two experiments with different treatments were conducted during this study. First experiment was conducted under shade house conditions with different fertilizer treatments; 50 % chemical fertilizer (CF), 50 % CF + BFBF and100 % CF recommended for Anthurium was selected as the control. In the second experiment, four different potting media (inert particle mixture, coir chips, leaf litter with sand, control) were used and the existing potting medium, which was used at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya was taken as the control. Different BFBF with 50 % CF application was under taken at one week interval for the plants of the first experiment and 50 % CF application was under taken at one week interval for the plants of second experiment. Initial data were collected before the plants establishment and final vegetative growth parameters were measured after three months of plant establishment in both experiments. Plant height (cm), plant weight (g), total root length (cm), leaf number, leaf area, root number and the chlorophyll content were considered as the vegetative growth parameters. Treatments were arranged in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Mean separation was conducted using the Tukey method (P< 0.05). MINITAB 16 statistical package (Minitab Inc.) was used for data analysis in both experiments.