Browsing by Author "Wekumbura, W.G.C."

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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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    Genetic Variation of Growth and Reproductive Parameters of Jatropha curcas in a Progeny Trial at Anapallama (1M2) in Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Rathnayake, R.M.J.C.; Bandara, K.M.A.; Wekumbura, W.G.C.
    Jatropha curcas is used for biodiesel production as an alternative for fossil fuel. Genetic variability among seed sources of Sri Lankan Jatropha population was studied for tree diameter at 10 cm height, tree height, and number of branches, fruits and flowers per tree, in a field trial which was established at Anapallama Wellawaya in 2009. The trial consisted of 60 open pollinated families from 13 seed sources. Those families were allocated in a row column design with 4 replicates, each family represented by 5 trees row plot. The results indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) among seed sources for survival, base diameter, number of branches, fruits and further indicate significant differences among families within seed sources for the tree basal diameter, number of branches, flowers and fruits. Progeny of seeds from Polonnaruwa, Hambanthota and Badulla performed better in tree base diameter and number of branches and number of flowers. Tree diameter (5.9 cm) was highest in the progeny of seeds from Hambanthota, whereas those from Badulla showed highest number of branches (16/tree) and highest number of flowers (27/tree). Maximum survival (100%) was recorded in the seed sources of Matara and Embilipitiya, and the least (80%) was from Anuradhapura seed source. Individual tree narrow sense heritability estimates for number of flowers, fruits, branches and base diameter were 0.34, 0.8, 0.78, and 0.59 respectively. There were strong positive correlations between number of branches and fruit production; and the tree diameter and fruit production. Hundred individual trees selected using an index based on number of branches and number of fruits per tree (economic weights 1 and 2 respectively) reveal that diverse distribution across the seed sources (50% Matara, 30% Hambantota and 20% Kurunegala) as well as within seed sources. Superior genotypes selected from this breeding population can be used for future improvement and for commercial plantations establishment.