Browsing by Author "Karunananda, D. P"

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Open Access
Effects of pinching, Cycocel and B-nine treatments on branching habit of pot poinsettia (Euphobia pulcherrima willd)
(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 2010) Karunananda, D. P; Peiris, S
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd) is a popular pot plant in many countries and there is a high potential to introduce it to the Sri Lankan floriculture markets. Naturally, poinsettia becomes colourful under short day conditions. However, artificial induction of flowers is necessary for it to produce marketable plants throughout the year. In the natural condition, plants show a vigorous growth and the height is undesirable to accept as a pot plant. Hence, pinching and application of growth retardants were practiced in this study to obtain short bushy plants. Potted rooted cuttings of Euphobia pulcherrima Willd were subjected to single and double pinching and to cycocel and B-nine applications, in 12 combinations. Significantly greater height reduction of shoots (20 cm) and highest number of shoots per plant (36) were obtained when the plants were exposed to double pinching followed by 1500 ppm cycocel application at 14 day intervals. Application of plant growth regulator, B-nine (5000 ppm) did not exert much effect on reducing the shoot height. However, it had some effect on increased shoot production in combination with double pinch. Double pinch gave significantly greater height reduction and increased shoot number when growth regulators were applied.
Open Access
Evaluation of public acceptability and longevity of forced bloomed poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) pots in indoor decorations
(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 2011) Karunananda, D. P; Peiris, S
Production of attractive marketable poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) pot plants throughout the year can be achieved by forced blooming in the off season, but it is necessary to study their post production conditions and public acceptability prior to marketing. The poinsettia pot plants produced in the off season, when evaluated on its acceptability by the general public through a questionnaire, indicated that 76.6 % of the participants accepted it as a suitable pot plant for indoor decorations in local festivals. In the experiments conducted to evaluate retention of attractiveness of poinsettia under different indoor conditions, mainly at different light levels, it was revealed that leaves, bracts and bract color of these artificially-induced plants remained more than 8 weeks under 1600-4000 lux light level. Almost all leaves and more than 50 % of colorful bracts dropped under the 1-50 lux, and 50-200 lux light levels within the first four weeks while their color reduced to 50 %.
Open Access
Preservation of Plumeria rubra L.(Rathu Araliya) for dry flower arrangements
(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 2007) Karunananda, D. P; Peiris, S
This study was carried out to optimize a flower drying technique applicable for long term preservation of Plumeria rubra L. in dry flower arrangements. Silica gel, borax with corn meal, river sand, sea sand and air drying were used to dry the P. rubra flowers. Retention of colour and shape of dried flowers were evaluated comparing against Royal Horticultural Colour Chart and designating weighted scores for each colour. Reduction of flower weight was used to select the methods for rapid drying. Preservation using silica gel and river sand showed significantly performances in colour retention at the completion of drying at four days. Silica gel, river sand, borax with corn meal and sea sand showed significantly different performances (p= 0.05) in shape retention when compared with the control. P. rubra petiole fixed well to metal wires showing ability of use for dry flower arrangements.