Browsing by Author "Priyadarshani, S. V. G. N."

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Open Access
Comparative Analysis of Starch Extracted from Banana (Musa spp.) Corms: Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties and Other Nutritional Properties
(Department of Applied Sciences. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Dahanayake, T. M. W.; Priyadarshani, S. V. G. N.; Gammanpila, H. W.
Banana corms are frequently regarded as agricultural waste globally, in contrast to the other parts of the banana plant. This study focuses on developing an optimal procedure for extracting starch from the banana corm and evaluating its antioxidant activity and nutritional composition to determine whether it has the potential to be used in food products. Starch was extracted from the banana corm using the wet milling method, and 1% Ascorbic acid was used to prevent browning. Three Sri Lankan banana varieties, Embul, Ambun, and Alukesel were used in the study. The starch yield ranged between 2.11% to 7.2%, with the highest obtained from Ascorbic acid-treated Embul (Embul-As). Ascorbic acid treatment significantly improved both starch yield and color (p < 0.05). The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity for Ascorbic free samples was given by Embul, which is 1.96 mg AAE/g. Nutritional profiling of Embul-As revealed favorable macronutrient content, including carbohydrate 82.2% and an energy value of 337 kcal/100g. These findings highlight banana corm-starch as a sustainable, underutilized resource with strong potential for innovative applications in food product development.
Open Access
Establishment of Micropropagation System for Mulberry (Morus alba L.)
(Department of Applied Sciences. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Munasinghe, S.; Priyadarshani, S. V. G. N.; Chithramali, J.
Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is an economically and ecologically significant woody perennial widely cultivated for sericulture, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceutical applications. However, conventional propagation methods are limited by low multiplication rates, genetic heterogeneity, and vulnerability to pests and diseases. This study aimed to develop a standardised and efficient micropropagation protocol for M. alba to support large-scale, uniform plant production. Explants (nodes, stems, and leaves) from healthy threeyear- old mother plants were subjected to ten surface sterilisation treatments using combinations of Clorox (10%), AgNO₃ (0.1 g/L), Tween 20, fungicides, and antibiotics. The optimised sterilisation method achieved a contamination rate of <5% and a survival rate >90%. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.2 mg/L Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) yielded the highest shoot induction and shoot biomass across nodal and leaf explants. Significant callus formation was observed in nodal and stem explants, while browning -particularly in leaf cultures was mitigated using Woody Plant Medium and citric acid.
Open Access
Investigating Nicotine’s Role in In vitro Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Tomato
(Department of Applied Sciences. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Perera, R.; Priyadarshani, S. V. G. N.
Nicotine is an addictive alkaloid found primarily in tobacco plants. Nicotine can be leached out into the soil through discarded tobacco products and can be taken up through the roots of plants and accumulated within them. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the major crops in the world that also contributes to the Sri Lankan economy. To study the effect of nicotine on plant growth and development, crude nicotine was extracted from dried tobacco leaves using the solvent extraction method. The study was conducted in vitro conditions. Tomato seeds were exposed to 20 μL/L, 50 μL/L, 100 μL/L, and 200 μL/L of crude nicotine (CN) in two types of media (media supplemented with 0.1 mg/L IAA and 2 mg/L BAP, and the other media without hormones). The seed germination rate and the growth and development of the seedlings were observed over a period of 8 weeks. The seed sprouting rate was highest in 100 μL/L CN in the media supplemented with hormones. The seed sprouting rate was highest in 50 μL/L CN in the hormone-free media. In the hormone-supplemented media, CN inhibited the growth of seedlings, especially in the 200 μL/L CN, where even the root growth was severely stunted. In the hormone-free media, some seedlings that were exposed to CN showed nutrient deficiency symptoms, and adventitious roots were observed coming from the leaves of some seedlings. This study provides insight into how nicotine from tobacco and nicotine products can affect seed germination and seedling growth.
Open Access
A Study on the Eff ect of Bitt ern Treatments with Organic Ferti lizers on the Growth of Tomato
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) De Alwis, N.S; Priyadarshani, S. V. G. N.; Gammanpila, H.W.
Bitt ern, a byproduct of the solar salt producti on process has been studied for its potenti al to become a cost-eff ecti ve ferti lizer due to its high ion concentrati on. However, high salt toxicity and low levels of phosphorus and nitrogen have aff ected its ability to supply the plant’s nutriti onal requirements on its own fully. Here we observe its success as a ferti lizer when paired with known organic, nutriti onal sources such as Gliricidia sepium and Vermi-wash in the growth of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) a crop of high commercial value and nutriti on, that is culti vated in Sri Lanka during both agricultural seasons. These two components when added to diluted Bitt ern were able to provide nutrients that Bitt ern did not contain. Certain combinati ons of rati os of the three components were revealed to be more successful than others with the combinati on of Bitt ern 25%, Gliricidia leaf pulp, and Vermi-wash 25% leading to a 63% overall increase in growth parameters, surpassing the increment of its respecti ve control group. This indicated that Bitt ern could be uti lized to develop a substi tute for expensive inorganic ferti lizers by pairing it with other low-cost, organic nutriti onal sources such as Gliricidia sepium and Vermi-wash. This may also be a more environmentally friendly substi tute for syntheti c ferti lizers.