Browsing by Author "Beneragama, C.K"

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Quantifying the Leaf Variegation In Red-Pigmented Aglaonema Cultivars Using Image Color Analysis
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Wijethunge, P.W.C.M; Beneragama, C.K
Aglaonema cultivars, the red-series in particular, has gained attention in the recent past with a high demand in the floriculture trade as a foliage ornamental plant. Aglaonema plants are valued based on their foliar variegation trait which is placed as the second most important consideration in the purchase decision at commercial scale. In quantifying the amount of variegated colour on leaves, a simple and efficient technique is required, especially at the export market. In this study, we attempted to develop a simple and effective method to quantify the amount of variegated colour on leaves. Image colour analysis was performed using thirteen red-pigmented Aglaonema cultivars. Using a digital camera, the images of the variegated leaves were imported into a computer. Pixel value of each colour within the selected leaf area was determined using MatLab software and respective RGB measurement graphs were generated for each sample. RGB histograms were built on the colour values 0-255 (x-axis) and relative numbers of pixels at each of the 255 colour value (y-axis). The dendrogram for the selected 13 newly introduced red pigmented Aglaonema cultivars was derived from the RGB peak colour values. All the cultivars used generally had redpink and yellow patches on leaf blade. Three main clusters were observed at the similarity percentage of 66%. Leaf samples under each cluster show similar graph patterns in RGB measurement. In most of the samples, dark red color was observed and all the leaf samples indicated having dark green colour variegations. Blue colour was not visual in the leaves. Image colour analysis qualifies as a valuable new tool for accurate, reproducible detailed and objective quantitative assessment for monitoring changes in colours and variegation patterns of plants like Aglaonema.
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Use of Morphological Traits to Identify Turfgrass Collections Belonging to Three Commonly Used Species in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Sumanarathna, R. A. P. I; Balasooriya, B. M. D. L; Chamara, R. M. S. R; Krishnarajah, S; Attanayake, U; Beneragama, C.K
Turfgrass is the world’s leading ground cover and an essential component in landscaping. It is used mainly in lawns, sports fields, golf courses, and some other places where environmental adaptability, cultural needs, quality, and appearance rely on the correct identification of suitable turfgrass species. In most cases, there are no stable morphological characteristics that distinguish closely related grass species. Therefore, a morphological analysis was undertaken to address the misidentification of turfgrass species and morphological traits using eleven turfgrass collections belonging to genera Axonopus, Zoysia, and Cynodon. Morphological diversity among grass collections was evaluated using a descriptor prepared for grass weeds under plant house conditions. Fifteen morphological parameters were evaluated fifteen weeks after establishment. Parametric data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA for three different genera separately. Results revealed that the morphological parametric traits show significant differences (P<0.05) among turfgrass collections at the genus level. Moreover, the dendrograms obtained from the morphological analysis were clearly separated into three clusters. The dendrogram constructed by morphological data was again divided into sub-clusters, and eleven collections were separated individually, indicating that they are different from each other.