Abstract:
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is one of the highest-earning spice crops
exported from Sri Lanka. Peeling cinnamon bark is a highly skilled technique that has
been handed down from generation to generation. The peelability of cinnamon bark
is known to change with the weather, maturity of the stem, and variety; however, the
physiological reasons behind the peelability have not been identified yet. Therefore,
the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between peelability
and water relations of cinnamon. Cinnamon sticks and leaves were sampled from 30cm
above the bottom of the plant. A total of 50 peelable and 50 non-peelable samples were
collected from 3-year-old plants in Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka in 2023. The peelability of
cinnamon sticks was measured by a texture analyzer, which estimated the force required
to remove the bark. Leaf water potential and hydraulic conductivity were measured
by pressure chamber and flow-through method. Soil moisture content and moisture
content of leaves were measured using the gravimetric method and oven drying
method. The statistical analysis was conducted using a t-test and interpreted by R. There
were significant differences between the treatments in the de-barking force, hydraulic
conductivity, and leaf water potential values (p<0.05). Hydraulic conductivity exhibited
a significant, strong negative correlation with de-barking force (p<0.05). There were no
significant correlations between the leaf water potential, soil moisture content, leaf
moisture content, and stem moisture content with the de-barking force (p<0.05). It can
be concluded that the peelability is strongly associated with the hydraulic conductivity
of the stem. The factors influencing the hydraulic conductivity in cinnamon stems need
to be studied further.
