Plectranthus amboinicus, a member of the family Lamiaceae, is an herb that is commonly employed in traditional medicinal systems owing to its distinct therapeutic qualities. The demand for this rare herb is rising rapidly, suggesting that wild harvesting may be insufficient and could even result in the extinction of this precious herb. Thus, initiating commercial cultivation of the species is imperative to meet the growing demand for the herb while preserving its genetic foundation. The current study comprised three independent experiments that evaluated the most suitable cutting type, potting media, and irrigation schedule for in-vivo propagation of P. amboinicus under protected house conditions.Four distinct cutting types (tip/softwood cutting, single nodal semi-hardwood cuttings, double nodal semi-hardwood cuttings and triple nodal semi-hardwood cuttings), five different potting mixtures (topsoil: sand: compost-1:1:1, topsoil: sand: compost-1:2:1, topsoil: sand: compost-1:1:2, topsoil: compost-1:1 and topsoil: compost-1:2) and four different irrigation schedules (daily watering to field capacity, daily watering to 50% of field capacity, watering at one-day intervals to field capacity and watering at one-day intervals to 50% of field capacity ) were tested in Completely Randomized Design with 20 replicates per treatment. Data on plant height (cm), number of new buds and number of newly emerged leaves were collected at weekly intervals. Data on chlorophyll content (SPAD) and leaf area (mm2) were recorded six weeks after cutting establishment. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were compared at the 5% level of significance. The results showed that softwood cuttings of P. amboinicus exhibited significantly higher growth and yield (P≤0.05), while the potting medium was composed of topsoil: sand: compost (1:2:1). The optimum irrigation schedule, out of the four examined, was daily watering to field capacity. In conclusion, softwood cuttings, topsoil: sand: compost (1:2:1) with daily watering to field capacity could be used as the most promising agronomic practice for the successful in-vivo propagation of P. amboinicus.
Postharvest losses of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) apple, an underutilized fruit in Sri Lanka, could be reduced by processing it into flour. This study evaluated three methods of cashew apple flour (CAF) preparation: oven drying of raw fruit (Method 1), boiled fruit (Method 2), and blanched fruit (Method 3), followed by grinding to fine powder. Flours were analyzed for their physicochemical and functional properties and proximate composition. Method 2 produced the most desirable flour characteristics, with high bulk density (0.67 g/mL), water absorption capacity (274.60%), and swelling power (8.95 g). Proximate composition of CAF from Method 2 included 2.24% ash, 4.54% crude fibre, 72.12% carbohydrate, 4.31% fat, and 9.08% crude protein. It was further tested in cookie formulations by blending with wheat flour (WF) at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% substitution levels. Physical parameters were assessed, and products underwent sensory evaluation. Cookies with CAF-WF blends did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from the 100% WF control in weight, diameter, height, or spread ratio, though variations were observed in volume and density. The 30% CAF-70% WF blend yielded the best sensory attributes, including overall acceptability, appearance, colour, flavour, texture, and aroma. Compared to the control, this formulation contained lower protein (12.33%), fat (16.25%), and ash (1.57%), but significantly higher fibre (6.33%) levels. Overall, Method 2 produced CAF with favourable functional properties suitable for bakery applications. Incorporation of CAF at 30% substitution improved cookie fibre content without negatively affecting sensory quality. CAF thus has potential for value addition in food systems, though further research is needed on pasting properties, shelf life, and storability of CAF and CAF-based products.
Agriculture remains a crucial part of Sri Lanka's economy, with cinnamon being a significant export. This research examined how mobile telecommunication technologies were used by small-scale cinnamon growers in the Galle District, Sri Lanka because they face several challenges, including limited access to vital agricultural information. A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a quantitative survey involving 240 farmers and 10 agriculture extension officers from six divisional secretariats. The findings revealed that although mobile phone ownership was widespread, up to 97%, there was a significant digital disparity, indicating that only 36% of farmers own smartphones.Although many people have mobile phones, their use in agriculture is still limited. The main barriers to effective utilization of mobile technologies included high costs, poor connectivity, operational difficulties, and language barriers. The research emphasized the importance of making mobile telecommunication technologies more affordable and accessible through infrastructure development, localized content, integrated services, peer-to-peer learning, and training programs to enhance their adoption and effectiveness. Additionally, there is a need for improved digital literacy programs and the expansion of mobile-based agricultural services to support the resilience and productivity of small-scale cinnamon farmers. This study indicated that addressing these challenges could significantly improve agricultural productivity, decision-making processes, and the socio-economic development of small-scale cinnamon growers in Sri Lanka.
Leaf spot disease (LSD) caused by fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) is a major threat to cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), yet its temporal variation remains poorly understood. This study assessed LSD incidence (LSDI) and severity (LSDS) in 40 cinnamon accessions collected from different regions of the country and grown in the field (WL2, Agro-ecological region, Sri Lanka). Correlations between LSDI and selected morphological traits were also examined. LSDS was determined using a disease assessment key, while tree height (TH), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), leaf length-width ratio (LL/LW), petiole length (PL), bark thickness (BT), trunk circumference (TC), and twig diameter (TD) were recorded using the Descriptors for Cinnamon.LSDI ranged from 50% to 100% across all accessions in both years. The mean LSDI was significantly lower in 2018 (76.97) with an average monthly rainfall (MRF) of 95.62 mm, compared to 2019 (87.42) with 189.4 mm MRF (p<0.05, Paired T-test). In 2019, LSDS varied among accessions grown in the field collected from different regions, Matara (4.08), Galle (3.30), Kalutara (3.74), Kurunegala (2.00), Ratnapura (2.67), and Hambantota (3.50), comparatively to the LSDS obtained in 2014–2015 (4.50, 4.82, 4.74, 4.60, 3.65, and 3.91, respectively) when the plants were grown in the original regions. Cluster analysis grouped accessions into three distinct clusters at a distance of 9. No significant correlations were found between LSDI and morphological traits (p>0.05). Findings indicate that LSDS varies among accessions, and LSDI fluctuates over time, likely influenced by environmental factors. Further research is needed to investigate genetic basis of resistance and environmental determinants of LSD in cinnamon.
Utilizing water hyacinth (WH) (Eichhornia crassipes L.) offers an opportunity for composting and supports sustainable waste management, despite its invasive nature. Therefore, this study aimed to produce compost using water hyacinth (WH), cattle manure (CM), and Albizia sawdust (AS) as raw materials, and to evaluate its physicochemical and biological properties. Cattle manure and AS were combined in a 1:1 ratio to prepare the initial mixture (M). Then, four compost piles were produced by varying the ratios of WH and M: T0 (1:0), T1 (1:1), T2 (2:1), and T3 (3:1). Colour, odour, moisture content, bulk density, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, total organic carbon, and the C:N ratio were analysed on the 60th, 90th, and 120th days, while sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, heavy metals, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and germination percentage were evaluated on the 120th day across all treatments. Based on the findings, T0 was rejected due to its high EC (6.01 dS/m), high organic matter content (42.31%), extremely high CEC (90 cmol/kg), all of which reduced its overall quality. T1 had high heavy metal content, and T3 exhibited a high C:N ratio (35.81), and incomplete nitrogen mineralization, making it unsuitable. Among the treatments, T2 was identified as the best compost due to its optimal nutrient composition and superior decomposition indicators, including the lowest C:N ratio (11.46), the highest total nitrogen content (1.395%), and an organic matter content of 27.55%, making it a highly suitable compost based on Sri Lanka Standards (SLS 1635) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standards. There was no significant difference in the germination percentage between T2 and the control. Hence, these findings confirm that T2 (a mixture of water hyacinth at a 2:1 ratio with an equal mixture of cattle manure and Albizia sawdust) is the most nutrient-rich and well-balanced compost among the treatments evaluated in the study.
Antioxidants help to mitigate oxidative stress, prevent non-communicable diseases, and promote health. Rice (Oryza sativa L), a staple food, contains antioxidants and comes in various varieties locally. This study assessed the antioxidant capacity of pigmented and non-pigmented rice varieties grown in Sri Lanka, focusing on the relationship between pericarp colour strength and antioxidant levels before and after milling and cooking. Forty rice varieties, including improved, traditional, and exotic types, were cultivated, harvested, processed, and sampled concurrently. The DPPH assay was used to assess the free radical scavenging capacity of rice at three processing stages: whole, milled, and cooked. The effective concentration (EC₅₀), defined as the concentration required to scavenge 50% of DPPH radicals, was calculated. The reciprocal of EC₅₀ was expressed as the antiradical power (ARP). Additionally, the total antioxidant capacity was measured using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. Colour values for lightness, redness, and yellowness of whole, milled, and cooked rice were recorded with a CR-20 colorimeter. Both methods revealed significantly higher antioxidant capacity in pigmented whole rice (p ≤ 0.05), with traditional varieties such as Masuran and Nonabokra and improved varieties such as Ld 368 and Ld 408 demonstrating promising antioxidant levels. A significant decline in antioxidants was observed after milling and cooking (p ≤ 0.05), with a greater loss occurring from whole to milled rice than from milled to cooked rice. Cooked pigmented rice had six times more antioxidants than non-pigmented rice. Milling resulted in a substantial reduction in both antioxidant capacity and redness, while cooking caused a comparatively smaller loss (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, antioxidant activity was reduced by up to 96% as a result of milling and cooking. Although processing reduces redness and increases lightness in pigmented rice varieties, a deeper red colour does not necessarily indicate higher antioxidant levels. Positive correlations between antioxidant capacity and pericarp colour values suggest that lighter reddish-yellow rice had significantly greater antioxidant capacities.
In recent times, the Sri Lankan government's agricultural policy has shifted rapidly from inorganic to organic farming. As a result, organic farming has become a debatable and timely valuable topic in Sri Lanka. Organic farming is an agricultural farming method that applies environmentally friendly pest and weed control mechanisms and fertilizers derived primarily from animal and plant wastes, as well as nitrogen-fixing cover crops. This study focused on analysing how farmers’ general attitudes, behavioural beliefs, favourable attitudes toward fully organic farming, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control influence the adaptation to fully organic vegetable farming in Polonnaruwa district. A questionnaire survey was conducted by face-to-face interviews to gather primary data from a randomly selected sample of 300 farmers from the vegetable sector in the Polonnaruwa district. The data were analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis through AMOS in the SPSS 24 version. The results revealed that the farmers’ perceptions of the adaptation to fully organic vegetable farming are significantly and negatively influenced by general attitudes, behavioural beliefs, favourable attitudes towards fully organic farming, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control among farmers in the Polonnaruwa district. Findings are important for policymakers and relevant organizations when implementing the agriculture policy in the country.
This study investigated the sorption isotherm of breadfruit starch with the view of providing sorption isotherm data that will enhance its storability and utilization in food formulation. The sorption isotherm of breadfruit starch flour at temperature levels (30, 35, 40, and 45 ℃) and water activity (ranging from 0.1 – 0.9) using sulphuric acid was experimentally investigated in an incubator until equilibrium moisture content (EMC) was obtained gravimetrically. The sorption data obtained was fitted into six different existing mathematical models using linear (Origin statistical procedure) and non-linear (Gauss-Newton) regression programs. The models were compared using the coefficient of determination (R2), residual mean square error (RMSE) and the sum of square error (SSE). The sorption models' predictive parameters were used to determine the best-fitting model. The results showed that the Modified Henderson model and Halsey model are best suited to predict the sorption isotherm of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) flour. In conclusion, this research gives insights for understanding the sorption isotherm behaviour of the breadfruit flour which is crucial in predicting shelf-life stability, designing and optimization of drying equipment and choosing appropriate packaging material for the product.
Growing Sri Lankan traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the short day (Maha) season is crucial for the flowering initiation of most of the accessions. Masuran is a traditional rice variety with a high yielding potential including health-promoting attributes and premium price. This study was conducted to determine the effect of selected environmental factors of the season on the number of days to flowering (DF), plant height at flowering (PH) and selected yield components of two accessions of the ‘Masuran’ variety (Acc. No. 4132 and Acc. No. 5530). Planting was carried out on the 05th day of every month for a period of one year. Average daily rainfall (RF), temperature and photoperiod of each month were recorded. The effect of environmental factors on selected agronomic traits was analysed. Days to flowering, PH, Total Effective Tiller Number (TTN) and Number of Spikelets per First Panicle (NSFP) varied from 65 to 110 days, from 85.7 to 158 cm, from 3 to 8 and from 142 to 199 in Acc. No. 4132, respectively while those parameters varied from 60 to 89 days, from 80.3 to 170 cm, from 3 to 16, and from 119 to 283 in Acc. No. 5530, respectively during the experimental period. The analysis of the effect of photoperiod, rainfall and temperature of the first month of each planting revealed that the effect of photoperiod and temperature is significant on DF. The first month of each planting was observed as the photoperiod-sensitive phase of rice accessions. Correlation analysis for DF and NSFP resulted in a strong positive relationship suggesting a multi-factor environmental effect on NSFP of the variety, Masuran when it was grown throughout the year. The above results will be important in introducing a novel aspect for optimizing planting schedules and selecting suitable genotypes to enhance rice productivity under different environmental conditions.
With the fisheries industry having detrimental effects on the environment and society, sustainable seafood is becoming more important. Understanding consumer preferences is essential to establish and maintain sustainable seafood markets. Numerous worldwide studies have evaluated consumer Willingness to Pay (WTP) for sustainable seafood providing a variety of findings. This article attempts to incorporate these findings and analyze variations in consumer WTP for sustainable seafood consumption. Studies were initially identified through Google Scholar using a set of keywords. With a predetermined set of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 33 studies with 141 observations were selected for the analysis. A weighted ordinary least squares regression was used to analyze the data. When compared to the reference group of ‘other attributes’, the results of the meta-regression model reveal that consumers place higher price premiums for ‘organic’ and ‘local/domestic’ attributes. The ‘choice experiment/conjoint analysis’ and ‘contingent valuation’ methods elicited significantly higher WTP estimates in comparison to the reference group ‘other methods’. Additionally, WTP estimates from the ‘choice experiment/conjoint analysis’ was higher than the ‘contingent valuation’ method. Furthermore, ‘Europeans’ and ‘Americans’ displayed significantly lower price premiums compared to ‘Asians’. Publication in Journals also resulted in significant positive values compared to publishing in others. Thus, the findings show that consumer WTP varies for different sustainable seafood attributes. The estimation method, region and publication also cause differences in WTP. The findings provide important implications for seafood producers and policymakers when making decisions related to the sustainability of seafood and designing future research work.
The age of transplants for planting in a local environment is important for better quality cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) production. A field experiment was conducted during the winter (October 2023 to March 2024) to evaluate the effect of transplant age at the time of planting on fruit quality parameters (total soluble solids (TSS), moisture, ash, fiber, fat, pH, and vitamin C) in two cherry tomato varieties: BARI tomato-11 (red-coloured fruits) and Philippines variety (yellow-coloured fruits). Cherry tomato plants were cultivated at four different transplant ages (21, 28, 35, and 42 days old) on the same day, and fruit quality parameters were measured in the ripe fruits. According to the results, there was a significant difference in all the studied fruit quality parameters, except for moisture content, among transplants of different ages, irrespective of variety. The TSS in fruit juice was higher (6.45) in 28-day-old transplants than in transplants of other ages. The vitamin C content in fruit pulp was higher (16.71 mg/100 mL) in 28-day-old transplants, which was statistically similar to that of fruits from 21-day-old transplants. Fat (0.20%) and ash (1.54%) contents in fruits were higher in 35-day-old transplants while the fruit fiber content (0.85%) was higher in 28-day-old transplants, which was statistically similar to that of 35-day-old transplants. Moreover, fruit quality parameters were significantly different between the varieties, except for TSS and moisture content. The BARI tomato-11 variety (red-coloured fruits) was more acidic (pH value of 4.03) and contained higher contents of ash (1.47%), fiber (0.85%), and vitamin C (16.56 mg/100 mL) than the Philippines variety (yellow-coloured fruits), irrespective of transplant age. Hence, it can be concluded that 28-day-old cherry tomato transplants are suitable for producing better quality fruits (higher TSS, fiber, and vitamin C contents).
The annual and seasonal rainfall trends and patterns along the Northern and Eastern coastal belt of Sri Lanka were analyzed by studying the daily rainfall records from 1981 to 2019 from five locations: Jaffna, Kanukkerny Tank, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Pottuvil, because no such pattern has been addressed previously. The Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator were used to detect the annual and seasonal rainfall trends and the magnitude of the trend, respectively. The findings indicate that the eastern coastal belt exhibits more consistent rainfall patterns both annually and seasonally. The rainfall pattern of Jaffna, situated in the Northern coastal region, differs from the aforementioned locations. The long-term mean annual rainfall of all locations was less than 1750 mm. The lowest seasonal rainfall occurs during the first inter-monsoon (FIM) season, amounting to less than 200 mm. During the second inter-monsoon (SIM) season, the entire area experiences its peak monthly rainfall, reaching up to 280 mm/month. The Northeast monsoon (NEM) is distinctly wet season for the entire Northern and Eastern coastal belt, with rainfall surpassing 100 mm/month. Trend investigations reveal that only the Batticaloa has a significantly increasing trend of 17.5 mm/year. This annual significant (p <0.05) trend primarily stems from the noteworthy trend during the SIM, with an increase of 7.3 mm/season. Although converse trends are evident during other seasons across all locations, none of them are statistically significant (p >0.05). In conclusion, the eastern coastal belt demonstrates a more consistent rainfall pattern both annually and seasonally, whereas the rainfall pattern of the northern region differs from it. Furthermore, only the Batticaloa region shows a statistically significant trend with an increment of 17.5 mm/year.
The livelihoods of rural communities in tea-producing developing economies in South Asia are heavily dependent on the tea industry. Worker shortages and rising costs in tea-producing countries affect tea consumers globally. This study aims to investigate the most effective strategies that tea plantations could implement to address the worker shortage. In this cross-sectional study, a survey methodology was applied. Proportionate stratified sampling procedures were used to randomly select 135 tea plantation managers from tea-producing regions of Sri Lanka. To test the hypotheses and analyse the data, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was utilized. The findings show that the availability of alternative employment opportunities is the most influential key factor in the scarcity of workers. The occurrence of workforce shortages is significantly influenced by commitments related to debt, insufficient monthly wages, and a lack of job recognition. The results show that revenue-sharing and mechanization are the most effective options to address worker shortages. Under the revenue-sharing concept, plantation workers have greater options to earn additional income. Mechanization increases job recognition, decreases production costs, and provides workers with the opportunity to earn satisfactory monthly earnings. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first comparatively evaluated study that indicates various strategies implemented by plantations to address worker shortages within a single study setting. To mitigate worker shortages and reduce production costs, the study suggests the importance of sharing managers' experiences with non-adopter categories on the revenue-sharing model and mechanization.
Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) is an important horticultural fruit that has a short shelf life due to its perishable nature. The major postharvest limit is weight loss and yellowing of peel color due to transpiration and respiration. An experiment was conducted to assess the influence of coconut oil, bee wax coating, and sealed packaging on post-harvest storage quality and shelf life of lime at cold storage. Limes were harvested at 147 days after fruit setting. Sorted limes were washed and dried using a fan and then coated with coconut oil and bee wax mixture with the respective ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 100:0 percentages. After coating, limes were kept in 17.5 cm x 17.5 cm size with 150 gauge perforated polyethylene bags and sealed polyethylene bags which served as Modified Atmospheric Packaging (MAP) and then stored at cold conditions (60C, RH 40%). The effectiveness of edible coating and sealed bag in extending the shelf life of lime and fruit quality was evaluated by determining weight loss, firmness, surface color, and juice content which were assessed periodically during storage. The results revealed that 100% coconut oil treatment and 90:10 bee wax coating, especially with a sealed bag, had an immense effect on retaining green colour, reducing weight loss and shrivelling and preserving firmness and moisture content of lime performing better storage life for 56 days of storage.
This study evaluated the antibacterial and antifungal activity of African walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) oil against species causing food poisoning and food spoilage. African walnut oil was extracted using the solvent extraction method. The fatty acid profile of the oil was determined using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The agar disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of the oil before using it for further tests. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were also determined using the disc diffusion assay. The result indicates that palmitic (1.53%), linoleic (13.5%), linolenic 80.59%, stearic (4.41%), and eicosenoic acid (0.42%) were present in the oil with higher polyunsaturated fatty acid values. African walnut oil showed remarkable activity against all the Gram positive organisms (Bacillus cereus ATCC 33018, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Clostridium perfringes NCTC 8799, and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 13932) with the inhibition zones ranging from 21.6 ± 0.27 mm to 26.3 ± 0.23 while the Gram negative organisms (Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13883, Pseudomonas fragi ATCC 4973, Escherichia coli ATCC 12806, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain ATCC 14028) were less sensitive and resistant to the oil chromatography-mass with inhibition zones ranging from 6.3 ± 0.31 to 9.9 ± 0.21 mm. Out of the tested oil concentrations from 100 – 0.39 mg/mL, MIC obtained for the Gram positive organisms was 1.56 mg/mL while it was 3.13 mg/mL for Gram negative bacteria (except L. monocytogenes). The antifungal test reveals the MIC range of 100 - 0.78 mg/mL in all the fungal isolates tested. African walnut oil has proved to be potentially active against the Gram positive bacterial and fungal species tested indicating that it can be used as a natural alternative to control food spoilage and food poisoning diseases.
Cashew apples deteriorate easily when kept for a few hours after plucking. The astringency of cashew apples has also limited its utilization and overall acceptability. This study, therefore, evaluated the effect of pretreatments on the quality of cashew juice. Fresh cashew apples were cleaned and pre-treated by blanching at 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C and 80 °C for 20 minutes and another batch of cashew apples was dipped in a brine of 5% concentration (w/v) at 80 °C for 20 minutes. Then, cashew juice was extracted from pre-treated apples and subjected to physicochemical, vitamins, minerals, anti-nutrient, and sensory analysis. The cashew apple blanched at 70 °C had the highest total solid, pH, and brix with the values 14.16%, 4.27, and 11.30 respectively. All these values differed significantly from the untreated samples except the brix. Samples blanched at 80 °C had the highest vitamins A and B1 (0.192 and 0.26 mg/100 g) and cashew apples blanched at 50 °C had the highest vitamins B2, B3, and C (0.68, 0.29, and 69.00 mg/100 g) which differed significantly from the untreated sample. The potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc ranged from 137.27 to 312.14 mg/100 g, 235.78 to 510.32 mg/100 g, 17.86 to 40.77 mg/100 g, and 0.22 to 0.55 mg/100 g, respectively. All treated samples had significantly higher mineral composition than the untreated cashew apple juice. The anti-nutritional factor ranged from 1.12 to 1.39 mg/100 g for total phenol, 0.12 to 0.28 mg/100 g for flavonoid, and 0.67 to 0.83 mg/100 g for tannin. Both treated and untreated cashew apple juice had no coliform. The result of the sensory evaluation showed that brine-treated juice had a higher acceptability value than other samples. Hence, pre-treatments of cashew apples enhanced the mineral and vitamin contents of the juice and increased the general acceptability.
This study explored the use of pomelo albedo as a composite flour in bread production. The pomelo albedo portion of the whole fruit was debittered through the standard method and obtained debittered pomelo albedo flours (DPAF) which were incorporated into wheat flour at four formulations of 0, 10, 20, and 30% for bread production. The impact of DPAF on functional characteristics of composite flours and physical, chemical and sensory characteristics of breads was investigated. The difference between 100% wheat flour and flour enriched with 30% DPAF regarding water absorption (130.00 - 166.33%), bulk density (0.68 - 0.96 g/ ml) and crude fibre (1.50 - 2.42%) was significant giving higher value in DPAF composite flours, while their specific volume (2.93 - 4.14 cm3/ g) and protein (7.75 - 10.07%) were lower than that of control bread without DPAF. The phytochemical properties of bread varied slightly with incorporation of DPAF. A Sensory evaluation test using a 9-point hedonic scale showed that the appearance, flavor and overall acceptability were within the liking rate for 10% composite bread. The overall results could be useful for guiding the future application of pomelo albedo by-product in the bakery industry.
Entrepreneurial Marketing (EM) represents an unconventional marketing strategy tailored for small businesses with limited resources. This research aimed to empirically investigate the impact of various entrepreneurial marketing dimensions (such as proactiveness, opportunity focus, calculated risk-taking, innovativeness, customer intensity, value creation, and resource leveraging) on the overall performance (a collective measure of efficiency, growth, profit, and owners’ personal goals) of small-scale food processing firms in the Kalutara District, Sri Lanka. Moreover, the study also intended to assess the impact of human capital variables (gender, age, experience, and education level) on the dimensions of EM in these small businesses. The data were gathered through simple random sampling from 100 small businesses operational for more than a year. The findings indicate that opportunity focus, innovativeness, customer intensity, value creation, and resource leveraging positively affected overall small business performance, whereas proactiveness and calculated risk-taking had a negative influence. Moreover, all human capital variables exhibited a significant and positive association with different EM dimensions at varying levels of significance. Notably, owners' experience and education level were positively linked to dimensions such as innovativeness, customer intensity, and resource leveraging. The study recommends the application of entrepreneurial marketing by small businesses to enhance sustainability and performance. Furthermore, enhancing the education and experience of business owners is advised, as it fosters the adoption of EM at the organizational level, thereby contributing to improved performance.
The first experiment was done to select the most suitable explant to establish a culture for shoot regeneration. Four different explants (cotyledon, cotyledon node, leaf and hypocotyl) excised from in vitro grown seedlings were cultured on MS medium containing 1.0 mg l-1 BAP and 0.2 mg l-1 NAA. Cotyledon was the most responsive explant which exhibited quick callus initiation. The second experiment was conducted to determine the effect of cotyledon explants on different MS media containing 1.0 mg l-1 BAP, 0.2 mg l-1 NAA and also various concentrations (0, 20, 40 and 60 mg l-1) of adenine sulphate (AS). The best medium for callus formation was MS medium with 1.0 mg l-1 BAP, 0.2 mg l-1 NAA and 60 mg l-1 AS. Callus derived from the particular medium also showed the best positive response for shoot regeneration after subculturing on MS medium with 2.0 mg l-1 BAP and 0.2 mg l-1 NAA. In the third experiment, D-biotin added into the composition of the culture medium had a beneficial effect on the callogenesis in association with BAP and NAA. Regenerated shoots were multiplied on MS medium with 3.0 mg l-1 BAP. Eventually, in vitro rooting was achieved on MS medium included with 1.0 mg l-1 IBA.
Viral diseases are a major problem for cowpea production in Nigeria, causing yield reductions of up to 100%. To combat this, farmers use insecticide sprays and manipulate plant population densities. A field experiment was conducted in the Southern Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zone of Nigeria in 2016 cropping season to assess the impact of planting density and insecticidal spray regimes on virus diseases in cowpea. The study found that the lowest disease incidence (32.2%) was observed at a density of 25×75 cm, and the highest (41.9%) at a density of 75×75 cm. The combination of a density of 25×7 5cm with three insecticidal spray regimes had the lowest incidence (18.6%), while 75×75 cm with no insecticidal spray had the highest (66.5%) disease incidence. Thus, it is recommended to use a planting density of 25×75 cm with three insecticidal spray regimes. This study emphasizes the importance of planting density and insecticidal spray regimes in managing viral diseases in cowpea production. Farmers can utilize this information to reduce disease incidence and severity and increase yield.
