Papers by Kasundi Gunasena
Dendrocalamus asper (giant bamboo) is a clumping type of bamboo belonging to the Poaceae family. ... more Dendrocalamus asper (giant bamboo) is a clumping type of bamboo belonging to the Poaceae family. Due to its economic and environmental value, demand for this species has increased tremendously. Conventional propagation methods have limitations due to low seed viability and the lack of healthy clumps. Therefore, an in vitro mass propagation protocol was developed to provide healthy plants for large-scale plantations. Seeds were used as the explant and they were surface sterilized and cultured on MS medium free of growth regulators. Nodal segments taken from in vitro germinated seedlings were used for shoot initiation. The best medium for shoot induction (MS medium supplemented with 0.0-2.5 mg/L BAP), best medium for multiple shoot induction (MS medium supplemented with 0.0-5.0 mg/L BAP), effect of shoot cluster size (shoot clusters containing 1-4 shoots) and effect of physical state of the medium (semisolid and liquid media) on multiple shoot induction were determined using shoots per node, mean shoot length and mean number of leaves per shoot after 6 weeks of incubation. Elongated shoots were transferred into a rooting medium and the best medium for root induction (MS medium supplemented with 0.0-5.0 mg/L IBA and IAA) and effect of cluster size (shoot clusters containing 1-4 shoots) on rooting were determined using the number of roots and root length after 6 weeks of incubation. All the cultures were maintained under a 16-hour photoperiod. Well-developed plantlets were transferred to coir pellets and after four weeks transferred into different potting mixtures containing different combinations of sand, compost and coir dust. Unless otherwise mentioned there were at least twenty replicates in all treatments. The highest mean number of shoots per node (16.87±0.52), mean shoot length (4.12±0.27 cm) and mean number of leaves per shoot (4.80±0.33) were observed in the MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP. The MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BAP was the best for multiple shoot induction, shoot cluster with 3 shoots was the best cluster size and the liquid medium had a better effect on shoot multiplication. The half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L IBA was the best for in vitro root induction with the highest mean number of roots (7.15±0.77) and a mean root length of 10.79±1.11 cm. Shoot clusters with 3 shoots was the best cluster size for root induction. A sand: compost: coir dust (1:1:1) mixture was the best potting mixture giving 100% survival. These findings provide a reliable micropropagation protocol for D. asper, which holds great promise for meeting the growing demand for bamboo resources and promoting sustainable bamboo cultivation.
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Current Overview on Pharmaceutical Science Vol. 3, Jan 7, 2023
Stevia rebaudiana which is commonly known as sweet leaf herb is used to extract non caloric sweet... more Stevia rebaudiana which is commonly known as sweet leaf herb is used to extract non caloric sweet steviol glycosides. Thus based on available reports, an attempt has been made to review on Stevia rebaudiana, its chemical composition, biosynthesis of steviol glycosides, application, cultivation, and phytochemical screening in context of its medicinal and pharmaceutical importance. A literature search was conducted on the web using Google Scholar and PubMed as search platforms. More than two-thirds of the references are within the last fifteen years. According to the literature, S. rebaudiana leaves contain non caloric steviol glycosides as well as pharmaceutically significant other phytochemicals. Miccropropagation is the most effective method for overcoming the limitations of traditional propagation methods. In vitro cultures have the potential to extract important phytochemicals used in the pharmaceutical, food (flavoring agents, food additives), and perfume industries.
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Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 2021
Aims: Stevia rebaudiana which is commonly known as sweet leaf herb is used to extract non caloric... more Aims: Stevia rebaudiana which is commonly known as sweet leaf herb is used to extract non caloric sweet steviol glycosides. Thus based on available reports about its chemical composition, biosynthesis of steviol glycosides, application, cultivation, and phytochemical screening an attempt has been made to review to Stevia rebaudiana in context of its medicinal and pharmaceutical importance. Methodology: Literature search have been done in the web using google scholar, PubMed as search platform. More than two-thirds of the references are within 15 years. Results: According to the literature search S. rebaudiana leaves contain non caloric steviol glycosides and pharmaceutically important other phytochemicals. Miccropropagation is the best propagation method to overcome difficulties in conventional propagation methods. Conclusion: It is concluded that in vitro cultures has potential to extract important phytochemicals used in various pharmaceutical, food (flavoring agents, food additive...
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Imperial journal of interdisciplinary research, 2016
Plants have been extensively used as medicine and for disease management since early days, due to... more Plants have been extensively used as medicine and for disease management since early days, due to presence of valuable chemical identities. Present study was carried out to compare the phytochemicals present in local (Sri Lankan) and imported (Indian) fruits of Punica granatum. Juice, peel and seed extracts of imported (Indian) and thirteen Sri Lankan P. granatum fruits collected from different localities were analyzed to determine the total anthocyanin (TA), total flavonoid (TF) and total phenolic (TP) content and were compared. Phytochemical analysis revealed that TA content is high in Indian fruits and TF and TP contents are high in Sri Lankan fruits. Peel and seed extracts were subjected to GC-MS analysis and peaks were obtained. Among them 27 peaks were selected and their medicinal properties were identified. It was revealed that peel and seeds have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity
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AGROFOR, 2019
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a medicinal herb belonging to the family ofAsteraceae. It is a natur... more Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a medicinal herb belonging to the family ofAsteraceae. It is a natural sweetener plant, which is estimated to be 300 timessweeter than cane sugar. In this study, reliable protocol was developed for directorganogenesis of S. rebaudiana using in vitro derived nodal explants. Seeds werecollected from mother plants and they were surface sterilized. To optimize thesurface sterilization procedure, dark color (fertile seeds) seeds were surfacesterilized using different concentrations and in different exposure time ofcarbendazim and sodium hypochlorite (Clorox). Out of different combinations0.2% carbendazim for 5 minutes, 10% sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes and70% ethanol each followed by two successive washings in sterile distilled waterwas found to be the best for surface sterilization. Two sets of seeds (fresh, stored)were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrations ofGA3 for seed germination. According to the results seed viabil...
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Current Overview on Pharmaceutical Science Vol. 3, 2023
Stevia rebaudiana which is commonly known as sweet leaf herb is used to extract non caloric sweet... more Stevia rebaudiana which is commonly known as sweet leaf herb is used to extract non caloric sweet steviol glycosides. Thus based on available reports, an attempt has been made to review on Stevia rebaudiana, its chemical composition, biosynthesis of steviol glycosides, application, cultivation, and phytochemical screening in context of its medicinal and pharmaceutical importance. A literature search was conducted on the web using Google Scholar and PubMed as search platforms. More than two-thirds of the references are within the last fifteen years. According to the literature, S. rebaudiana leaves contain non caloric steviol glycosides as well as pharmaceutically significant other phytochemicals. Miccropropagation is the most effective method for overcoming the limitations of traditional propagation methods. In vitro cultures have the potential to extract important phytochemicals used in the pharmaceutical, food (flavoring agents, food additives), and perfume industries.
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International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 2018
Reliable protocol was developed to obtain healthy plants of imported (Indian) Punica granatum Lin... more Reliable protocol was developed to obtain healthy plants of imported (Indian) Punica granatum Linn. using in vitro germinated seedlings and juvenile explants. In vitro seed germination of imported seeds was induced on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of GA3. The best medium was found to be the MS medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L GA3 and seed stratification induced the seed germination percentage and seedling height. Cotyledon, hypocotyle, internode and leaf explants were excised from in vitro germinated seedlings for calli induction. MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/L NAA and 3.0 mg/L BAP was found to be best medium for callus induction from cotyledons, 2.5 mg/L NAA and 4.0 mg/L BAP from hypocotyle, 1.5 mg/L NAA and 2.0 mg/L BAP from internode and 1.5 mg/L NAA and 3.0 mg/L BAP from leaf explants. Cotyledon explants showed the highest percentage of callus induction followed by internode, leaf and hypocotyle explants. MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA and 3.0 mg/L BAP was found to be the best medium for shoot regeneration from calli obtained from all types of explants. Highest shoot regeneration percentage was showed in cotyledon derived callus followed by hypocotyle, internode and leaf derived calli. For somatic embryogenesis leaf disc explants were taken from 45 days old P. granatum Linn. plantlets. MS medium supplemented with 500.0 mg/L L-Glutamine, 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 2.0 mg/L BAP was found to be the best medium for embryonic callus induction, MS medium with 500.0 mg/L L-Glutamine, 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D was found to be the most effective medium for embryonic callus formation. The treatment with 0.25 mg/L BAP, 500.0 mg/L Casein hydrolysate, 500.0 mg/L L-Glutamine and 30.0 g/L sucrose under dark conditions gave the highest percentage of matured embryonic callus.
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR), 2017
Plants have been extensively used as medicine and for disease management since early days, due to... more Plants have been extensively used as medicine and for disease management since early days, due to presence of valuable chemical identities. Present study was carried out to compare the phytochemicals present in local (Sri Lankan) and imported (Indian) fruits of Punica granatum. Juice, peel and seed extracts of imported (Indian) and thirteen Sri Lankan P. granatum fruits collected from different localities were analyzed to determine the total anthocyanin (TA), total flavonoid (TF) and total phenolic (TP) content and were compared. Phytochemical analysis revealed that TA content is high in Indian fruits and TF and TP contents are high in Sri Lankan fruits. Peel and seed extracts were subjected to GC-MS analysis and peaks were obtained. Among them 27 peaks were selected and their medicinal properties were identified. It was revealed that peel and seeds have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity.
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Conference Presentations by Kasundi Gunasena
IX International Scientific Agriculture Symposium "AGROSYM 2018", 2018
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a medicinal herb belonging to the family of Asteraceae. It is a natu... more Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a medicinal herb belonging to the family of Asteraceae. It is a natural sweetener plant, which is estimated to be 300 times sweeter than cane sugar. In this study, reliable protocol was developed for direct organogenesis of S. rebaudiana using in vitro derived nodal explants. Seeds were collected from mother plants and they were surface sterilized. To optimize the surface sterilization procedure dark color (fertile seeds) seeds were surface sterilized using different concentrations and in different exposure time of carbendazim and sodium hypochlorite (Clorox). Out of different combinations 0.2% carbendazim for 5 minutes, 10% sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes and 70% ethanol each followed by two successive washings in sterile distilled water was found to be the best for surface sterilization. Two sets of seeds (fresh, stored) were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of GA3 for seed germination. According to the results seed viability was lost with time and it affected seed germination. Seed germination was not affected by GA3, but seedling height was affected by it. Seeds germinated on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/L GA3 showed the highest seedling height after 10 days. MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP and Kin were tested for shoot bud and multiple shoot induction. Out of different media Ms basal medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BAP was found to be the best medium for shoot bud and multiple shoot induction within 60 days.
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Papers by Kasundi Gunasena
Conference Presentations by Kasundi Gunasena