SLIIT Conference and Symposium Proceedings
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All SLIIT faculties annually conduct international conferences and symposiums. Publications from these events are included in this collection.
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Publication Embargo Commercialization of Dracaena Sanderiana (Lucky Bamboo) as a Foliage Crop in Hambanthota District of Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-09-15) Anuruddi, H.I.G.K.; Fonseka, D.L.C.K.Dracaena sanderiana is an in-demand cut foliage plant belongs to family Agavaceae. Dracaena varieties are commercially produced in export-oriented large scale plantations in Sri Lanka. The crop is mainly cultivated in the wet zone due to the favourable growth conditions which enhance the export quality characteristics of the plant. The climatic conditions in the dry zone is also favourable for its growth under appropriate conditions. But the supply of the crop still falls short of the demand. A survey was conducted to identify possibilities of introducing Dracaena as a future commercial foliage to the Hambantota district. Randomly selected 40 flower growers from selected divisional secretariat divisions (DSD) in Hambantota were interviewed administrating a pre-tested questionnaire during early 2022. Data were subjected to a percentage analysis while descriptive statistical methods were used to represent the results using Microsoft Excel. According to the survey, bulk of them (60%) continue floriculture business as a full time employment. Middle aged women work in floriculture enterprises in large numbers. The majority of responders (70%), are willing to incorporate Dracaena as a fresh floriculture produce for their nurseries. Fifty percent of them have additional land with natural shade up to 0.25 acres, which is possible to utilize for Dracaena cultivation with proper intervention. Sixty percent of them stated that they prefer to train on value addition of Dracaena plants by knitting. Fifteen percent (15%) of them possess shade net houses and other infrastructure in place. An export-oriented Dracaena producer society in Beliatta DSDs is ready to impart its knowledge and offer advice to novice producers. The need of marketing the products collectively to reduce transportation costs is understood by the respondents. The initial investments on growth structures and irrigation pose a significant challenge. A majority of growers (70%) anticipate receiving financial assistance from the government. A lack of awareness of the crop, low availability of planting materials, high transportation costs along with high prices of fertilizer and fungicides in the markets were other challenges. It is necessary to provide finance support, trading facilities, production aid, and awareness and training initiatives to introduce D. sanderiana as a lucrative crop for the Hambantota district.Publication Embargo Biomonitoring of HgCl2 with Dracaena sanderiana under Two Different Irradiance Levels: Effects on the Photosynthetic Apparatus(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Jayasooriya, L. S. H; Wijethunga, W. M. U. D; Kumarihami, H. M. P. C; Attanayake, U; Beneragama, C. KHeavy metals such as Hg are phytotoxic. Interference of heavy metals with photosynthesis has been a topic of intensive research during the last few decades. Some plants can be used in biomonitoring and the remediation of such pollutants. It is important to assess the biomonitoring potential in ornamental plants as they do not enter into the food chain. This experiment was conducted to examine the effect of HgCl2 on the photosynthetic apparatus in Dracaena sanderiana to assess its potential to use in biomonitoring. D. sanderiana cuttings were subjected to heavy metal stress (100 μM HgCl2), along with control (distilled water) under two contrasting irradiance levels (High light-: 22,500±2,000 lux and Low light-: 750±200 lux). OJIP chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were conducted using a fluorometer (FluorPen, FP-110). The measurements were recorded four times a day (9 am, 12 noon, 3 and 6 pm) continuously for four days after imposing the treatments. Specific energy fluxes per reaction center, flux ratios and Performance Index (PI) were recorded. There was a significant reduction in PI, maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry (φPo) and quantum yield of electron transport (φEo) with the time in HgCl2 treatment compared to the control. This indicates the negative effects of Hg+ on the photosystem II. However, the visual rating of the foliage quality was at a satisfactory level. Moreover, there was a significant increase/progress/growth in effective antenna size (ABS/RC) and maximum quantum yield of nonphotochemical de-excitation (φDo) in HgCl2 with time. Except in electron transport efficiency (ψo), a clear unimodal circadian variation was observed in all OJIP parameters under high light condition. Photosynthetic apparatus of D. sanderiana is affected by the Hg+. However, the plant was able to cope up with the heavy metal stress during the experimental period indicating that, it can successfully be employed in short-term biomonitoring of mercury. In the experiment, the temperature effect could not be eliminated, thus future experiments for studying that might be crucial.Publication Embargo A Successful Surface Sterilization Technique for in vitro Establishment of Dracaena sanderiana Sander ex Mast. Nodal Explants(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Seneviratne, K. L; Malwattage, G; Weerakkody, G. K; Peiris, S. E; Peiris, C. NDracaena sanderiana Sander ex Mast. is the number one cut foliage exported from Sri Lanka and it is also a popular potted plant. In order to promote dracaena cultivation, micropropagation techniques can be employed to produce high quality large number of clones as planting materials. However, severe microbial contaminations in the in vitro establishment stage mitigate the micropropagation application on this species. Therefore, this study was undertaken with the objective of using silver nitrate (AgNO3) to eliminate surface adhered microorganisms to obtain high amount of contamination free cultures at the in vitro establishment stage. Investigations also carried out to explore reusability of AgNO3 after the first wash in surface sterilization. Apical parts of about 8 cm of D. sanderiana cv ‘White’ were used in this study. Silver nitrate solution in 200 mg/L and Clorox™ in 10% concentrations were used for the surface sterilization of the nodal explants. Results revealed that 200 mg/L AgNO3 produced 90% and 10% Clorox produced 20% contamination free cultures after 8 weeks of establishment in vitro. Also, in the experiment of investigation of reusability of AgNO3 it was observed that the second and third washings of AgNO3 produced 80 and 70% non-contaminated cultures, respectively. Results of this study suggest that AgNO3 is a highly effective low-cost non-toxic material which can be used in surface sterilization of D. sanderiana nodal explants. With this promising results it can be suggested that 200 mg/L AgNO3 solution can be considered to replace toxic heavy metals such as mercuric chloride frequently used in Micropropagation.