Lemba: alternative source for artificial sweetener
2007
Nap Abdullah | Ghizan, S. | Fard, A.R., Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor (Malaysia). Dept. of Crop Science
Lemba is a perennial shrub and distributed widely in Malaysia. Easily mistaken as ground orchids or young palms, the leaf of this plant was traditional used for wrapping rice cake and fruits are eaten fresh. The Latin name for Lemba is Curculigo latifolia L. and belongs to the Family Hypoxidaceae. Ironically, the taste of the fruit is not sweet rather sour. However, after eating the fruits, food consumed after will taste sweet. The chemical responsible for the sweetness is a protein called curculin. In Malaysia, the number of species is uncertain and there are various sizes of fruits hence the sweetness varies according to size of fruits. Ultimately, the desired traits for fruits are bigger size and sweeter fruits. This goal can be achieved through plant breeding. However, before hybridization is being carried out, the characteristics for each species available in Malaysia has to be determined. This is in order to identify species with desired traits. In this study, the morphological characteristics of Lemba from various locations in Malaysia were described. Introductory morphology studies of Lemba will be able to assist in better understanding specifically of the reproductive biology and fruit set which finally is crucial for plant breeding program in Lemba. Also, from this study, the variation of species will be identified. The objective of this study was to describe the morphology characteristic of C. latifolia L. Plant morphology was recorded and samples were collected for three states in Malaysia. Reproductive organs were fixed in 70% FAA prior to process for histology and Scanning Electron Microscope. The morphological characteristics obtained include pollen, anther, stigma, ovule, ovary, seed and fruit morphology.
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