Sixteen SSR markers were used to identify genetic relationships of 43 coconut accessions conserved ex-situ in field gene banks of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL). The 16 SSR markers clearly unveiled the genetic relationships of Sri Lankan coconut populations. Gene diversity and polymorphism information content (PIC) were relatively higher in the common 'tall' coconut and Pacific tall coconut than in autogamous dwarf form of coconut. The SSR assessment unveiled the genetic lineages based on evolutionary mechanisms signifying the narrow genetic base of coconut germplasm, with most of the diversity confining to 'tall' coconut. The main genetically different coconut groups identified were 'tall', 'San Ramon and alike' and 'dwarf'. These have already been utilised in coconut improvement programmes and the study emphasizes the need for enrichment of the gene pool by exotic introductions. The overall results also supports the hypothesis that coconut disseminated from it's center/s of origin in far east to Indo Atlantic regions via America.
Schizophyllum commune is an edible mushroom grown on wood under natural conditions. Present study focused on cultivation of S.commune on different wood substrates since it is not commercially cultivated. A pure culture of S. commune was obtained by growing a tissue of the mushroom on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. Spawns were produced by growing the mycelium on paddy grains. Mushroom was cultivated on sawdust of seven different wood substrates. The maximum yield was observed in sawdust of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) followed by sawdust of rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) and country almond (Terminalia catappa). A significant difference was not observed when mango (Mangifera indica) elephant apple (Dillenia indica), tulip wood tree (Harpullia arborea) and thungfaa (Alstonia macrophylla) sawdust used as substrate. The lowest yield was observed in thungfaa (Alstonia macrophylla) sawdust. Effect of some additives on the yield was studied and significant difference in yield was observed when rice bran and used-tea leaves used as additives. Effect of rice bran on yield was studied using different ratios of sawdust to rice bran and the highest was observed in 2:1 ratio of sawdust to rice bran. The best incubating temperature for mycelial growth on the substrate was 35 0 C. The composition of the mushroom on a dry weight basis was; 71.4% moisture, 23.35% crude protein and 6% ash. Tested wood species are promising substrates for cultivation of S.commune as cottage industry.
Germplasm characterization is an important link between conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. The study was conducted to characterize randomly selected 20 finger millet germplasm accessions obtained from Plant Genetic Resource Center, Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka using morphological markers. Morphological study was carried out using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and 15 morphological markers were recorded. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results for quantitative morphological characters revealed that all quantitative morphological characters measured differed significantly (p˂0.05) among the accessions used for the study, indicating higher levels of morphological diversity. According to the ANOVA results, days to flowering and days to maturity show high level of predictive capability while flag leaf length and number of productive tillers show comparatively low level of predictive capability. Principal component analysis indicated that morphological characters such as days to flowering, finger number and yield per plant were the important traits contributing for the overall variability implying that breeding effort on those traits can meet the targeted objective. The clustering pattern of studied finger millet accessions based on morphological markers comprised of two major clusters. Both clusters comprised of Indian accessions those conserved at PGRC, Gannoruwa and as well as Sri Lankan accessions.Results of the study suggest a considerable morphological variability, which could exist among the studied traits. Furthermore, this study revealed that the genetic diversity existed irrespective to the geographical origin. This finding justifies the importance of germplasm characterization.
Potato is an economically important crop among vegetables grown in Sri Lanka that mainly relies on healthy seed potatoes. About 40% of the annual seed potato requirement is fulfilled by the import of seed potatoes from Netherland, USA, Germany and France. Import of seed potatoes makes possibilities to enter plant pathogenic pests and diseases to Sri Lanka. Bacterial wilt is one of the most destructive diseases of potato. Ralstonia solanacearum, which causes bacterial wilt of potato, is considered as an important quarantine significant plant pathogen in Sri Lanka. The currently available conventional methods such as culture methods, biochemical methods are time consuming, very laborious and not sensitive for the detection of R. solanacearum in imported seed potatoes. Although immunodiagnostic methods are rapid, the sensitivity is not enough to detect the bacterium in asymptomatic or latently infected seed potatoes. In this study, a DNA-based detection method was applied to screen seed potatoes imported into Sri Lanka and 5 out of 30 tested samples (17%) were positive for R. solanacearum. The seed potato samples detected as infected with R. solanacearum were further studied and it revealed that the Asian phylotype I and the American phylotype II were detected from seed potato samples imported to the country. Phylotype II (Race 3/biovar 2) was detected in seed potatoes imported from USA and France and both phylotype I and phylotype II (Race 3/biovar 2) were detected in seed potatoes imported from Netherland from where majority of seed potatoes are imported into the country. The quarantine measures should be strictly followed to avoid the spread and establishment of phylotype II, Race 3/biovar 2 strains within the country, as it is the extremely destructive potato pathogen which have a restricted distribution in higher elevations of Sri Lanka. Further, the DNA-based method can be used to identify the pathogen to avoid the introduction or entry of R. solanacearum into the country for the betterment of potato cultivation in Sri Lanka.
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