The
Philippine Textile Research Institute: Small and
Medium Enterprises and Large Companies’ Partner
for Quality Assurance Toward Global
Competitiveness
Virmila B. Alavarez,
Mirasol D. Pico, Mila I. Bawasanta, Marilou C.
Forcadela
Ma. Yehsa G.
Mallari and Rocelia A. Rafols
ABSTRACT
The paper
articulated the relevance of the Philippine Textile
Research Institute (PTRI), through the PTRI Testing
Laboratory (PTL), to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
and large companies as they face the challenge and
threats of globalization. The testing services provided
by PTL translated to the companies’ quality assurance,
which is instrumental to gain wider market acceptance,
even without maintaining costly testing laboratory of
their own, that redounds to savings in the companies’
operating costs.
Mulberry Sapling Development as Affected by Variety
and Planting Method
Fermin O.
Bayeng, Jr. and Adelfa M. Basaen
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to
compare the effect of horizontal and vertical
planting methods for cuttings of mulberry varieties
Kanva, Kingson, S54 and Thailand on the monthly
growth height, percentage cutting survival, and
number of saplings developed. Results revealed that
in vertical and horizontal planting methods the
Thailand variety yielded significant difference in
monthly growth height, percentage cutting survival
and number of saplings developed over varieties
Kanva, Kingson and S54. Kingson proved to perform
better in horizontal planting method as compared to
vertical. Vertical planting method showed more
advantages than horizontal for Kanva and S54.
The
Philippine handloom weaving industry, which falls
under the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),
has remained a significant contributor in providing
economic activities in the remote and rural areas of
the country. Handloom woven products are among the
non-traditional export contributors of the country’s
foreign earnings. Today, handloom weaving still
stands to be a major occupation not only of the
indigenous people but also of the rural folks.
Textile Potential of Different Banana Fiber
Varieties
Marites
S. de Leon
ABSTRACT
Six varieties of banana (Musa)
plant namely Bongolan, Lakatan, Pakil, Saba, Saksik
and Tordan were used in this study. The decorticated
banana fibers exhibited gum content ranging from
40%-48%, tensile strength of 23-36 kgf-m/g and
fineness of 67-93 denier.
The decorticated fibers were subjected to degumming
treatment to render them spinnable into yarns. The
residual gum content, tensile strength and fineness
of the degummed fibers were compared to the
previously studied Cavendish variety which served as
the standard. All the varieties showed similar
behavior towards degumming with about 80% of the
gums effectively removed. Marked reduction in the
tensile strength was observed but the values were
still within the acceptable range for textile
processing. While improvement in the fiber fineness
was observed as evidenced by 8%-30% reduction, all
the varieties were still coarser compared to
Cavendish. Summarizing the results, the potential of
the banana fiber varieties for textile processing
can be ranked from high to low as follows: Saba,
Lakatan, Bongolan, Pakil, Saksik, Tordan.
Prevention of Mildew Formation of Tikiw, Bangkuang
and Raffia
Using
Commercially Available Mildewcide
Ciriaco D.
Espino and Charito P. Cauton
ABSTRACT
This short term study
aimed to evaluate the formation of mildew to treated
and untreated tikiw (Rhynchospora corymbosa),
bangkuang (Actinoscisrpus grossus) and raffia (Corypha
elata) under normal environmental conditions. The
study also evaluated the effect of washing and
drying and the applicability and effectiveness of
two commercial mildewcides on the fibers. The
mildewcide treated fibers showed no signs of mildew
growth, while untreated tikiw fibers were 40-80% and
bangkuang and raffia were 1-3% covered with mildew.
The application of mildewcides was effective in
preventing the growth of mildew.
Phenotypic Characters of Silkworm Purelines LAT2,
LAT71 and ST2
Alfrieta
B. Olayo, Adelfa M. Basaen, Catherine M. Kimbongan
and Evelyn A. Sicat
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to establish the phenotypic
characters of silkworm purelines Lat 2, Lat 71 and
ST2 that were evolved from foreign hybrids Japanese
A, Guang Nong 3 and Su Tung, respectively. This
silkworm purelines were reared five times between
the period March 2000 – April 2002 to observe,
verify and record distinguishable external
characters that are used to describe and identify
silkworm breeds. These characters shall serve as
basis and guide for future silkworm breeding studies
aside from providing additional database of silkworm
genetic resources in the Philippine Textile Research
Institute’s germplasm.
