Browsing by Author "Kumara, G. D. K."

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    Effect of benzyl adenine (BA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), on leaf propagation of Chirita Royal Queen
    (4th International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Harshani, H. P. T.; Kumara, G. D. K.; Senarathne, M. M. D. J.
    Chirita ‘Royal Queen’ is an ornamental plant belongs to the family Gesneriaceae and novel to the floricultural industry. They need to be propagated in large quantities especially for biological conservation and commercial purpose. Chirita ‘Royal Queen,’ are currently propagated through stem cuttings and this results one single plant per cutting. Hence the present study was carried out at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, to establish an efficient, simple in vivo multiplication method by leaves to satisfy the demand on semi-succulent ornamental Chirita ‘Royal Queen’. This experiment was conducted according to Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments replicated 15 times. Healthy, partially mature leaves were used for propagation. Hormone application was done as a foliar application after establishment of leaves. The effect of Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) 1 g/l alone and NAA in combination with Benzyl Adenine (BA) (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 g/l) on regeneration ability of leaves under in-vivo conditions was tested in the present study. No hormones were applied to the control. In this experiment, number of shoots, shoot length, number of leaves, number of roots and root length were observed after four weeks. The results revealed that NAA in combinations with Benzyl Adenine (BA) 2.5 g/l and 2 g/l have positive effects in relation to shoot length, number of shoots, and number of leaves. Using NAA 1 g/l alone significantly increases the number of roots. Hence, the combination of auxin and cytokines (NAA 1 g/l and BA 2.5 g/l, respectively) in higher concentration significantly stimulates the regeneration of Chirita ‘Royal Queen’ from leaves under in-vivo conditions
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    Nutritional and hormonal effect of Sargassum wightii (a seaweed) extract on in vitro sub-culturing medium of Gerbera
    (Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Silva, M. M. M.; Herath, H. M. I.; Kumara, G. D. K.
    Seaweed extracts are considered as bio-stimulants in agriculture. However, in agriculture and horticulture industry, it has not been fully exploited and adapted in crop production systems. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the bio-stimulatory and nutritional effects of Sargassum wightii extract on in vitro shoot multiplication of Gerbera. The experiment was carried out using Complete Randomized Design with 14 treatment combinations with six replicates. Full strength MS medium without any synthetic hormones or seaweed extract was used as the control and full strength MS medium supplemented with 3 ppm BAP was used as the standard. Nine combinations of seaweed extract (10%, 25% and 40%) concentrations and levels of nutrients (full MS, half MS and without MS) were used as treatments. Also, half MS and without MS nutrient media were used without any synthetic hormones or seaweed extract and with 3 ppm BAP as treatments. Existing in vitro shoots were used as explants for the multiplication. Data were recorded at the fourth and sixth week after establishment. The highest number of multiplied shoots and highest average shoot length were recorded in the full strength MS medium supplemented with 10% seaweed extract and it was significantly higher than that of the standard. Comparisons among the treatments depicted the hormonal and nutritional effects of the seaweed extract. Of all treatments, half strength media recorded similar or lesser number of shoots compared to full strength media. There were no multiplied shoots recorded in the medium without MS containing treatments. Increasing concentration of the seaweed extract recorded a decreasing trend of shoot multiplication. There was no significant difference in the number of shoots between the fourth and sixth weeks. Accordingly, 10% seaweed extract could serve as a substitute for synthetic plant growth regulators in vitro in shoot multiplication medium of Gerbera. Furthermore, the fourth week after establishment is the most economical stage to harvest multiplied shoots.