Anthracnose Inhibiting Activity of Madre de Cacao (Gliricidia sepium) Leaf Extract on Post – harvest Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Researchers: Tupas, Frederick King M., Forastero, Nicolette, Armas Alexia Marie L.,

 Lebrias, Maria Teddielyn Bernadette, and Posada, Elijah Rafael

Research Adviser: Mrs. Ma. Regaele A. Olarte

 Introduction

                  Anthracnose is a common and serious disease of plants in tropical region and humid areas. It is a fungus that causes heavy and deep damage to tomatoes making it easy to rot. Growth of Anthracnose (C. Coccodes) is most rapid at 80° F, although the fungus can cause infections over a wide range of temperatures (55°-95° F). Wet weather promotes disease development, and splashing water in the form of rain or overhead irrigation favors the spread of the disease. Colonies as observed by the researchers are usually dark pigmented with white aerial vegetative part of a fungus which is called mycelium. Consisting of numerous black compact mass of hardened fungal mycelium containing food reserves (sclerotia) and light brown colored conidial masses, reverse is a dark brown conidial masses. It is also a result in wide range of symptoms like leaf spots, defoliation and distortion in many different kinds of plants. One of the plants that is affected by this kind of fungi are tomatoes.

  The researchers have come up with the idea of using Madre de Cacao (Gliricidia sepium) leaf extract on post-harvest Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). The study ascertained that the medicarpin content of the said plant is an effective treatment for fungi. Since Gliricidia has already proven its power on fungal infections, the researchers conducted several experimentation and trials to figure out its effectiveness; with this, Anthracnose can now be prevented and cured without the help of commercially known anti-fungal treatment.

Mucus from Brown Garden Snail (Helix aspersa) as Desiccating Agent to Absorb Moisture

Researchers:

Ivy Lane Erguiza, Priscila Aguila, Janine Sabado, Honey Balbastro

Research Adviser:

MRS. MA. REGAELE A. OLARTE


3rd Place DepEd Regional Science Fair 2014
3rd Place National Science and Youth Congress 2014
4th Runner Up National Science Quest 2015

ABSTRACT
Among the reasons for food shortage in the country are pest infestation in crops and
damages in the shipping of goods. Upon seeking ways to exterminate these unwanted
factors, the researcher came up with the idea of targeting these two problems. The
researcher investigated the hygroscopic property of Brown Garden Snail (Helix aspersa)
slime and converted it into a very useful product.
The organic desiccant was derived from the extraction of slime obtained from the body
secretions of the snail. The following experimental set-ups had been made: 5.6 grams wet
slime and 1.6 grams wet filter paper; 5.6 grams dry slime and 1.6 grams wet filter paper.
For the control set-up, 5.6 grams commercial desiccant and 1.6 grams wet filter paper
were used as positive control; 1.6 grams wet filter paper without treatment was used as
the negative control.
One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for independent groups showed that there was an
overall significant difference among the group means, at P <.0001. The results of post-hoc
Tukey's HSD tests showed that all points of comparison were significant, P<.01. The study
proved that the organic desiccant obtained from Snail (Helix aspersa) slime could be
effective moisture absorbent, especially the wet mucus.

KEYWORDS

Snail; desiccant; Helix aspersa; hygroscopic property

Research Mentors: AMANDA PEREZ, JEATRICE LOPEZ, ROSELLE GALVEZ

Wound Healing Effect of Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) Extract on Albino Mice

Bryant ALTERADO, Reggie BAGATELA, Elijah Jeremie SORIANO

S.Y. 2014-2015


ABSTRACT

            Due to the high cost of the commercial medicines, people are incited to discover and seek for an alternative way to cure particular ailments by the utilization of medicinal plants. People in rural places and those who cannot afford to buy expensive topical treatment for skin diseases need to discover what nature can offer as alternative medication. Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) is a plant that is abundant in many regions of Asia. It was first used in Japan as herbal tea for treatment of different diseases, and it multiplied rapidly, particularly in the Philippines. Subsequently, the researchers studied the beneficial uses of the Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) leaves, specifically its capability to treat wounds.

            A total of four sets of experiments are prepared. Three (3) mice per four (4) different kinds of set-ups. Pure Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) extract and decocted Ashitaba (Angelicakeiskei) extract served as the experimental set-ups. Betadine (Povidone-iodine) and the untreated set-up served as the control set-ups.

           The results of the experiment revealed that among all the treatments, 100% Angelica keiskei pure extract had the highest rate of wound healing in albino mice. Next were the Povidone-iodine and the decocted extract of Angelica keiskei, which were at the same level of efficiency. Statistical analysis showed that there’s no significant difference between the experimental set-ups (Ashitaba leaf and stem pure extract, and decocted extract) and the control set-up (Povidone-iodine) in terms of wound healing rate.

Utilization of Aratilis (Muntingiacalabura) as Feedstock for Bioethanol

Macasinag, John Paulo H.; Joson, Jonas S.; Pante, Jonel B.

Magpale, Vincent; Ybalez, Kent Nehemiah

 Research Adviser: Mrs. Ma. Regaele A. Olarte

CHAMPION - National Science and Youth Congress

Youth Greenovation 2014 - Applied Science Category

University of the Philippines, Los Banos

INTRODUCTION

   Production of green energy from indigenous materials has played an essential role in recent days due to the depletion of non-renewable energy resources. Viable alternative sources of energy have long been searched for in the midst of the increasing demand of for fossil fuels. People are already upset by the high fuel prices, and in reality they are likely to go much higher in the future. Thus, an alternative fuel source such as bioethanol can save the consumption and dependency on fuel wood.

Aritilis (Muntingiacalabura)is a fruit-bearing tree that is abundant in many regions of the Philippines, and because of its plentiful growth, it is sometimes considered as nuisance whenever it produces too much waste on the ground where it falls off. This made the researchers decide to use aratilis fruit as the main material in producing bioethanol considering that it is rich in starch that is convertible to sugar, which is then processed to become bioethanol.

Background of the Study

Bioethanol is a renewable fuel source. It is produced from plants that process and store energy from the sun. In a sustainable cropping system, plant feedstock could be produced year after year. Regions of the world that were without crude oil deposits could consider fuel farming as a long term solution to offset their energy needs and foreign oil dependency.

 Bioethanol can be made from common crops such as sugar cane, sweet sorghum, and the like; unlike petroleum which is produced from agricultural feedstock. It burns more clearly and produces very little amount of carbon monoxide which can help in reducing pollution in our country. It is also renewable, making it more practical and affordable.

Aratilis fruit is a starchy substrate which can be utilized for the production of green energy, bio-ethanol.Ethanol from starch is generally produced by the fermentation process.In order to produce ethanol from starchy material, the starch must first be converted into sugars. 

The Exterminating Effect of Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) Bufotoxin Crude Extract against Rice Black Bug (Scotinophara coarctata)

Researchers:

Bermejo, Aldin M.

Montante, Samboy Jim B.

Peneyra, Rona Moneth M.

Venus Angeline Baldonaza

Shanelli Deviterbo

Research Adviser:

Ma. Regaele A. Olarte

1st Place Winning Entry in the Divison, Regional, and National Levels

Candidate to the INTERNATIONAL Delegation Team for ISEF 2012-2013

Abstract

             One of the reasons for rice shortage in the country is pest infestation, specifically, by Rice Black Bug. The researchers were challenged to come up with another method of combating Rice Black Bugs in the rice field, without altering the balance of nature. Upon seeking ways to exterminate these unwanted pests, the researchers investigated the exterminating property of Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) crude extract against Rice Black Bug. The pesticide was derived from the extraction of the 22.5 grams of crude extract. The following experimental set-ups had been made: 30% crude extract and 70% corn oil solution (0.3 grams of crude extract and 0.7grams corn oil solution); 50% crude extract and 50% corn oil solution (0.5 grams of crude extract and 0.5 grams corn oil solution); 70% crude extract and 30% corn oil solution (0.7 grams of crude extract and 0.3 grams corn oil solution.); and 100% crude extract (1 gram of crude extract). Using the different concentrations, the effectiveness was tested to the Rice Black Bug (Scotinophara coarctata), in terms of mortality rate. T- test showed that there was no significant difference between the experimental product and the commercial bug killer in terms of the pest’s mortality rate, at 0.05 level of significance. The results of experimentation and data analysis showed that the experimental product was just as effective as the commercial bug killer in eradicating pests. Thus, the organic pesticide obtained from Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) crude extract could be an alternative to the commercial bug killer.