The electronic version of the Tropical Agricultural Research Volume 19, 2007
ISSN: 1016.1422



Research Articles
Page
     
I Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

 

     

 1

Cloning of Trypsin Inhibitor Gene from Cowpea and Yard Long Bean and Transformation of Tobacco

D.A. Shirani, S. Bhat, R.S. Bhat and M.S. Kuruvinashetti

 

1

 2

Agrobacterium Mediated Transfer of Bacillus thuringiensis Strain 6e Cry Gene to Ixora odorata var. Vulcan: A Comparison of Tissues

U.I. Alahakoon, H.M.V.G. Herath, P.K. Abeyrathna , R.W.M.V.W.N.C. Karunatilleke, U.K Y. Silva, T. C. Bamunuarachchige and J.M.R.S. Bandara

 

10
3

Transformation of Metarhizium anisopliae by Agrobacterium Mediated Gene Transfer and Electroporation

E.M.D.S.B. Ekanayake, A.K. Vidanapathirana, P.K. Abeyrathna , U. K. Silva, T.C. Bamunuarachchige and J.M.R.S. Bandara

 

19
4

Plant Regeneration in vitro by Organogenesis on Callus Induced from Mature Embryos of Three Rice Varieties (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica

T.P. Wijesekera, M.C.M. Iqbal and D.C. Bandara

 

25
5

A Novel Plasmid Encoded Endo-ß-1, 4-Glucanase Activity from an Acinetobacter spp. Capable of Decomposing Rice Straw

D.M.N. Weerakoon and D.M. Sirisena

 

36
6

Molecular Characterisation of Lactobacilli Isolated from Ileal and Caecal Digesta of Broilers Fed with Prebiotic Plant Extracts

J.K. Vidanarachchi, L.L. Mikkelsen, P.A. Iji and M. Choct

 

46
7

Comparative Structure Modeling of Metal Regulatory Transcriptional  Factor; MTF-1

K.H. Rajapaksha, H.A.M. Wickramasinghe, J.M.R.S. Bandara, N.U. Jayawardana, D.M.A.N. Senavirathne and T.C. Bamunuarachchige

 

52
 

 

 

II

Plant Protection

 

 

 

 

8

Parasitoids of Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in the Mid Country of Sri Lanka

T. Nagalingam, H.N.P. Wijayagunasekara , K.S. Hemachandra and L. Nugaliyadde

 

59
9

Predatory Coccinellids (Coleoptera: Cocinellidae) of Vegetable Insect Pests: A Survey in Mid Country of Sri Lanka

S. Mayadunnage, H.N.P Wijayagunasekara, K.S. Hemachandra and L. Nugaliyadde

 

69
10

Idioscopus nagpurensis (Pruthi) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae):  A New Member of Mango Leafhopper Complex in Sri Lanka

R. Gnaneswaran, K.S. Hemachandra, C.A. Viraktamath, D. Ahangama, H.N.P. Wijayagunasekara and I. Wahundeniya

 

78
11

Survival of Magnaporthe grisea on Rice Seeds from Artificially Inoculated Panicles of Selected Rice Lines

K.D. Puri, S.M. Shrestha, K.D. Joshi and G.B. Khatri

 

91
 

 

 

III

Food and Nutrition

 

 

 

 

12

The Effect of Type of Cereal on the Glycaemic Response of two Traditional Sri Lankan Food Items

A. Thathvasuthan, A. Chandrasekara, D.G.N.G. Wijesinghe, and H.M.D.K. Jayawardena

 

101

13

Effect of Maternal Third Trimester Energy and Protein Intake on Pregnancy Weight Gain and Newborn Birth Weight

M.P.M.S.H. Perera and D.G.N.G. Wijesinghe

 

110

14

Changes in Vitamin E and Essential Fatty Acid Contents and Their Interrelationship in Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Seeds During Germination and Storage

S. Vasantharuba, D.G.N.G. Wijesinghe and R. Sivakanesan

 

119

15

Amylase and Glucosidase Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): A in vitro Study

W.K.S.M. Abeysekera, A. Chandrasekara and P. K. Liyanage

 

128

16

High Prevalence of Malnutrition and Household Food Insecurity in the Rural Subsistence Paddy Farming Sector

R.L.D.K. Malkanthi, K.D.R.R. Silva, G.A.P. Chandrasekera and J.M.U.K. Jayasinghe

 

136

17

Effect of Pb2+on Phycobiliprotein Content of Spirulina platensis, an Edible Cyanobacterium

K.K.I.U. Arunakumara and X. Zhang

 

150

 

 

 

IV

Horticulture

 

 

 

 

18

Preservation of Plumeria rubra L. (Rathu Araliya) for Dry Flower Arrangements

D.P. Karunananda and S.E. Peiris

 

160

19

Growth of Nursery Plants in Tea as Affected by Type of Cutting and Planting Media

K.W.L.K. Weerasinghe, M.A. Wijeratne and U.R. Sangakkara

 

170

20

In vitro propagation of Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br.(Iramusu) through nodal culture

D.S.K. Nagahatenna and S.E. Peiris

 

181

21

Biological and Economic Feasibility of Growing Mint (Mentha sylvestris L.), Mustard (Brassica integrifolia (L.) Czern) and Asamodagam (Trachyspermum involucratum (Roxburgh) H. Wolff.) under Hydroponics

K.R.E. Padmathilake, V.N. Wickramaarachchi, M.A.M.S. Anver and D.C. Bandara

 

193

22

Effect of Coconut Water in Extending the Vase Life of Anthurium Cut Flower Variety Wild Pink

V.A. Agampodi and B.M. Jayawardena

 

202

 

 

 

V

Agronomy

 

 

 

 

23

Formulation and Testing of Site Specific Fertilizer Recommendation for Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

M.G.T.S. Amarasekara, S.P. Indraratne, D. Kumaragamage and F. Sultanbava

 

210

24

Identification of Salt Tolerant Rice Varieties at the Seed Germination Stage and its Relationship to Seed Husk Thickness and Ion Absorption

A. Subasinghe, N.A.A.S.P. Nissanka and W.M.W. Weerakoon

 

219

25

Evaluation of Site-Specific Fertilizer Recommendation for Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) in two Locations in Sri Lanka

J.P. Kirthisinghe, D. Kumaragamage and F. Sultanbava

 

229

26

Physiological Changes Associated with Submergence Tolerance in Genetically Diverse Lowland Rice Genotypes

A.K. Srivastava, P.N. Singh, S. Kumar, P.C. Ram and A. Ismail

 

240

27

Maturity Indices for Harvesting of Cabbage (Brassica oleraceae L.)  Variety Green Coronet

W.A.H. Champa, K.B. Palipane, W.A.P. Weerakkody and M.D.Fernando

 

254

28

Improvement of Gymnostachyum species by Induced Mutation

T. T. Khaing, A.L.T. Perera, V.A. Sumanasinghe and D.S.A. Wijesundara

 

265

 

 

 

VI

Animal Science and Aquaculture

 

     

29

Effect of Feeding Velvet Beans (Mucuna pruriens L.) on the Performance  and Lipid Profile of Broiler Chickens

T.S.P. Jayaweera, H.W. Cyril, K. Samarasinghe, H.A.D. Ruwandeepika and  T.S.J. Thotawaththe

 

273

30

Saw Dust and Refuse Tea as Alternative Litter Materials for Broilers

D. Senaratna, N.S.B.M. Atapattu and D.U. Belpagodagamage

 

283

31

Integration of Goldfish (Carassius auratus) Culture with Organic Rice Farming

B.P.A. Jayaweera, U. Edirisinghe and B. Ranaweera

 

290

32

Comparison of Morphometrics and Meristic Characteristics of Two Catfishes Plotosus limbatus and Clarias brachysoma

W.M.T.K. Wasala, U. Edirisinghe, S. Nathanael and T.V. Sundarabarathy

 

301

 

 

 

VII

Agricultural Economics and Extension

 

 

 

 

33

A Social Accounting Matrix for a Rural Agricultural Economy of Sri Lanka: An Analysis of Sectoral Income Flows

D. Wijerathna and K. Karunagoda

 

307

34

A Pricing Model for Milk Based on Cost of Production

V. Saravanakumar and D.K. Jain

 

321

35

Financial Factors Influencing the Purchase of Export Credit Insurance (ECI) in Sri Lanka

M.M. Fonseka and A. Ariyawardana

 

335

36

Impact of Microfinance Programme in Empowering Women: Evidences from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Tamil Nadu

M. Anjugam, C. Ramasamy and R. Balasubramanian

 

346

37

Personal Characteristics of Farmers affecting the Information Seeking Behavior on Improved Agricultural Practices in Udaipur District, Rajasthan, India

A.M.A.P.G Gunawardana and V.P Sharma

 

359

 

 

 

VIII

Culture and Environment

 

     

38

The Beliefs in Supernatural Forces in Kitul (Caryota urens L.) Industry in Sri Lanka

M.A.P.K. Seneviratne, W.A.D.P. Wanigasundera and M. Wijeratne

 

367

39

Factors Affecting Pesticide Use by Farmers in Vavuniya District

A. Selvarajah and S. Thiruchelvam

 

380

40

Estimations and Mathematical Model Predictions of Energy Contents of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Kandy

S.N.M. Menikpura, B.F.A. Basnayake, P.B. Boyagoda, I.W. Kularathne

 

389