http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19178 2026-04-26T18:32:56Z 2026-04-26T18:32:56Z Zamha, M.B.F. Shyamalee, H.A.P.A. Ranawake, A.L. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19345 2025-03-17T10:13:06Z 2024-12-31T00:00:00Z

Evaluation of morphological variations in fifteen traditional yard long bean (vigna unguiculata l.) accessions in Sri Lanka under organic conditions Zamha, M.B.F.; Shyamalee, H.A.P.A.; Ranawake, A.L. The yard long bean, belonging to the family Fabaceae, holds significant popularity as a vegetable crop in Sri Lanka. Several indigenous yard long bean accessions are available in Sri Lanka, and assessing their morphological variability plays a vital role in utilizing the germplasm effectively for future breeding programs. The study focused on characterizing fifteen traditional yard long bean accessions gathered from various locations in Sri Lanka using four qualitative and nine quantitative traits. The study was conducted without using inorganic fertilizer and chemical pesticides. The morphological variation among the accessions was effectively assessed using Principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, 2D scatter plot, and hierarchical dendrogram. Three principal components derived from the nine traits and scored more than one Eigenvalues cumulatively explained 79.31% of the total variance. Pod weight, pod diameter, and pod length contributed to principal component one (PC1), which explained 38.68% of the variance. Cluster analysis identified five morphologically distinct clusters at cluster distance of five. Cluster II comprised the accessions TJ-Rathu and TJ-150 that had the highest mean number of pods per plant, and pod yield (7.84 g and 283.37 g, respectively) at the first three consecutive harvests. TJ-150 recorded the highest pod yield per plant (289.8 g). Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that the number of pods per plant, correlated with the pod yield at 0.05 significance level. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics are expected to be valuable for future breeding programs, facilitating the improvement of yard long beans.

2024-12-31T00:00:00Z Wardha, A.S. Kariyawasam, K.M.G.M.M. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19344 2025-03-17T09:57:05Z 2024-12-31T00:00:00Z

Development of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ala)-rich butter using plant seeds: integration of flax, chia, and sesame seeds and assessment of its quality and functional characteristics Wardha, A.S.; Kariyawasam, K.M.G.M.M. Peanut butter is globally renowned for its popularity, yet alternative plant seeds might offer superior nutritional and therapeutic benefits for developing plant seed-based butter. This study aimed to develop a peanut-based butter enriched with Flax (FS), Chia (CS), and Sesame Seeds (SS), evaluating its sensory, physicochemical, and therapeutic properties. Various seed ratios were tested, while the control comprised 100% peanut seed. Physicochemical parameters, radical scavenging, and phenolic activities were assessed using standard methods. A sensory evaluation by 30 semi-trained panelists on a 5-point hedonic scale identified the optimal ratio: 70% peanut, 15% FS, 10% CS, and 5% SS (T2). T2 exhibited significantly higher crude fiber (15.63±0.14%) and protein (24.20±0.10%), with lower fat (26.34±0.10%) and ash (1.32±0.36%) compared to the control. The addition of FS, CS, and SS significantly increased alpha-linolenic acid content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activities (5.16 ± 0.06%, 2.66±0.09 GAE mg/g, and 42.96±0.78%) respectively. Texture attributes improved compared to the control (hardness: 11.01±0.03 g, cohesiveness: 0.11±0.02 g, adhesiveness: 1.1±0.17 mJ, and chewiness: 0.16 ±0.12 mJ). This investigation highlights the potential of formulating a spread based on peanuts, enriched with FS, CS, and SS. The resulting product not only exhibits appealing sensory attributes and texture but also demonstrates promise for enhanced functional properties.

2024-12-31T00:00:00Z Kaushalya, S.D.N. Wijesinghe, W.A.J.P. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19343 2025-03-17T09:20:46Z 2024-12-31T00:00:00Z

Gluten-free biscuit prepared using jackfruit (artocarpus heterophyllus l.) Seed flour: an approach towards utilization of unexploited food source Kaushalya, S.D.N.; Wijesinghe, W.A.J.P. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.) seeds are an underutilized, readily available source in Sri Lanka that encounters a huge postharvest loss. Jackfruit seeds are a significantly rich source of gluten-free (GF) flour that can be identified as a potential flour source for producing GF flour confectionaries. The present study evaluated the potential of using jackfruit seed flour (JSF) in GF biscuit production. Jackfruit seeds were processed into flour. Several sets of biscuit samples were prepared by incorporating JSF with three flour types: finger millet flour (FMF), white rice flour (WRF) and red rice flour (RRF). In addition, 100% JSF biscuits were prepared. The most accepted product was selected through a series of sensory evaluations and the physicochemical, nutritional, microbial, and sensory properties were evaluated. 100% JSF biscuit was selected as the most accepted biscuit. According to proximate analysis, 100% JSF biscuit contained 3.88±0.16% moisture, 5.93±0.55% crude proteins, 1.2±0.02% crude ash, 18. 31±0.62% fat, 3.1±0.04% crude fiber and 66.94±1.36% total carbohydrates. The sugar content was 40.3±0.3%, and the salt content as sodium chloride was 0.57±0.01%. Dietary fiber content was detected as 4.1±0.02%. According to the study, JSF was identified as a successful substitute for wheat flour in biscuit production.

2024-12-31T00:00:00Z Wijerathna, P. Sandamal, S. Ratnasekera, D. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19342 2025-03-17T07:32:12Z 2024-12-31T00:00:00Z

Exploring climate change impacts on morphology and phenology of common wild rice in Sri Lanka Wijerathna, P.; Sandamal, S.; Ratnasekera, D. Exploring phenotypic plasticity and adaptive potential of natural populations of wild rice is crucial because of the recent drastic climatic changes. The wild progenitors of cultivated rice (O. rufipogon and O. nivara) provide an excellent natural system for investigating the processes of phenotypic plasticity. We examine the responses of morphology and phenology of O. rufipogon and O. nivara in their respective typical natural habitats throughout the life cycle in two distinct periods, 2016 and 2020. A three-year gap was maintained to visualize the variations of traits against the continued climatic effects. Trait divergence between two years was tested using a t-test. Results revealed noticeable differences in the morphological characteristics, including the highest plant height (159.92 ± 3.52 cm), flag leaf length (21.15 ± 1.49 cm), flag leaf width (1.16 ± 0.06 cm), anther length (3.84 ± 0.06 mm), and awn length (4.10 ± 0.40 cm) of O. nivara in 2020 due to high annual precipitation. O. rufipogon showed a stable response, which inhabitant to deep water. Compared to 2016, O. nivara flowered earlier in 2020, but O. rufipogon displayed a late flowering in 2020. These findings imply that phenotypic plasticity played a significant role in environmental adaptability. These adaptive variations are crucial to adapt in climate change and species divergence, offering new avenues for understanding vital genes for breeding climate resilient rice.

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