Tensile strength and microscopy analysis of abaca (Musa textilis Nee) fibers from bunchy top virus resistant and susceptible varieties

Date

12-2015

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Agronomy

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Antonio G. Lalusin

Restrictions

Restricted: Not available to the general public. Access is available only after consultation with author/thesis adviser and only to those bound by the confidentiality agreement.

Abstract

Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) is the country's premiere fiber and is indigenous to the Philippines. Abaca fiber is well-known to be one of the strongest natural fibers. The high demand for abaca fiber has become an impetus for plant breeders to find significant relationships among all the factors such as Bunchy top virus resistance and fiber quality that affect the abaca production in the country. Forty abaca varieties consisting of twenty resistant varieties and twenty susceptible varieties were evaluated for tensile strength. Outstanding tensile strength were found on susceptible varieties compared to resistant varieties. Means of tensile strength were ranked and eight varieties were chosen consisting of two strongest and two weakest tensile strength from the two groups. The selected varieties were evaluated through microscopy analysis of their fiber structure. Resistant varieties was observed to be more porous and have less mean pore area compared to susceptible varieties. Due to the decrease in mean pore area, resistant varieties provide less surface area for the infection and proliferation of the bunchy top virus. In the correlation analysis, porosity and tensile strength was observed to have a negative relationship. Thus, resistant varieties have lower tensile strength because they are more porous compared to the susceptible varieties.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2015 A3 /A58

Document Type

Thesis

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