S. M. M. Rahman’s scientific contributions

The experiment was conducted at Biotechnology Laboratory, Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute (BSRI). Sugarcane bagasse supplemented with wheat bran was evaluated to find out the growth and yield of mushroom. The mycelia running rate, days required to complete of full running of mucelia, days required for the initiation of primordia to harvesting, number of primordia, number of fruiting body, effective fruiting body, plius diameter, thick ness of plius, stalk diameter, stalk length, fresh and dry yield of oyster mushroom were greatly influenced by different combinations of sugarcane bagasse with wheat bran as substrate. The highest yield (120.00g) and return (Tk 12.00) were obtained from the treatment of 80% of sugarcane bagasse supplemented with 20% wheat bran. The highest mycelia running rate was observed in the treatment where sugarcane bagasse alone was used as substrate. The minimum duration for mushroom production found in the combination of 90% sugarcane bagasse and 10% wheat bran. The results revealed that the 80% sugarcane bagasse supplemented with 20% wheat bran and 90% sugarcane bagasse supplemented with 10% wheat bran are the best combinations of sugarcane bagsse and wheat bran for the growing of oyster mushroom and these are eco nomically viable.

An experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute (BSRI), Ishurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh. In this study, biochemical composition, enzyme activity and some chemical parameter of sugarcane juice in the varieties Isd-16 and Isd-28 were investigated. Isd-28 showed higher amount of brix (20.85%), pol (18.53%), fiber (19.93%), ash (6.95%), minerals (Na 1.36 & K 3.12 gm/100 gm ash) and lipid (0.058%) than that of Isd-16. Other compositions such as reducing sugars (0.096%), commercial cane sugar (12.55%), moisture (88.97%), protein (0.328%) and vitamin-C (0.00351 gm/100 gm juice) were lower in Isd-28. Amylase enzyme activity (44.44 unit/ml) and cellulase enzyme activity (7.15 unit/ml) were higher in Isd-28 but invertase enzyme activity (10.88 unit/ml) was lower than that of Isd-16. Purity (91.34%) and extraction percentages (54.63%) were higher in Isd-16 whereas, recovery percentage (11.17%) was lower in the juice of Isd-16 variety than that of variety Isd-28 of sugarcane. Most of the biochemical compositions analyses were higher in Isd-28 than that of lsd-16. Reducing sugars were less in Isd-28 variety indicating less invertase activity.

In vitro regeneration of sugarcane varieties viz. Isd-20, Isd-30 and Isd-2/54 has been studied. Nutrient media containing growth regulators enhanced callus induction, shoot differentiation and root formation in vitro. All the three varieties cultured fortified with 3.0 mg/1 2,4-D, showed the best performance in the callus induction on modified MS media. In shoot induction, effectiveness of cytokinin (BA 1.5 mg/1) along with either 0.25 mg/1 NAA or IBA was proved to be superior to other concentrations. Microshoots were rooted on MS and modified MS media. The striking number of roots was observed on modified MS medium supplemented with NAA 0.5 mg/1 + 0.5 mg/1 IBA and IBA 0.5 mg/1 + LAA 0.5 mg/1. Eighty to ninety per cent regenerated plantlets were viable with 85% relative humidity while transferred to sterilized soil.