Nirodha Weeraratne

Dr Nirodha Weeraratne

Agricultural microbiology

Gulbali Institute

Biography

Nirodha is an agricultural scientist conducting research and teaching in agricultural biology, soil science, and crop protection. Her research involves harnessing soil-plant-microbial interactions for sustainable management of agroecosystems. She is currently working on developing new resources to enhance sustainable agricultural production systems through pest and pathogen management, and improvement of soil health and fertility. She is also exploring the use of marine macroalgae for developing agrochemicals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.

Research
  • Plant and soil microbiomes
  • Molecular plant-pathogen interactions
  • Entomopathogens
  • Microbial inoculants
  • Biofilms
Publications
Full publications list on CRO

Ma, L., Weeraratne, N., Gurusinghe, S., Aktar, J., Haque, K.M.S., Eberbach, P., Gurr, G.G., Weston, L.A. (2023), Dung Beetle Activity Is Soil-Type-Dependent and Modulates Pasture Growth and Associated Soil Microbiome, Agronomy, 13(2), 325. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy13020325.

Weeraratne, N., Stodart, B.J., Venturi, V., Hofte, M., Hua, G.K.H., Ongena, M., Savocchia, S., Steel, C.C., Ash, G.J. (2020), Syringopeptin contributes to the virulence of Pseudomonas fuscovaginae, based on sypA biosynthesis mutant analysis, Phytopathology, DOI:10.1094/PHYTO-07-19-0235-R.

Vithanage, M., Rajapaksha, A.U., Wijesekara, H., Weerarathne, N., Ok,Y.S. (2013) Effect of soil types and fertilizers on fractionation and lability of arsenic in inorganic arsenical pesticide-contaminated paddy soils in Sri Lanka under simulated environmental conditions, Environmental Earth Sciences, 1-11. DOI:10.1007/s12665-013-2486-9.

Buddhika, U.V.A., Seneviratne, G., Ekanayake, E.M.H.G.S., Senanayake, D.M.N., Igalavithane, A.D., Weeraratne, N., Jayasekara, A.P.D.A., Weerakoon, W.L., Indrajith, A., Gunaratne, H.M.A.C., Kumara, R.K.G.K., De Silva, M.S.D.L., Kennedy, I.R. (2016), Biofilmed Biofertilizers:  Application in Agroecosystems, In The Handbook of Microbial Bioresources. Eds: Gupta VK et al. CAB International. 9781780645216.

Seneviratne, G., Weeraratne, N., Buddhika, U.V.A. (2013) Diversity of plant root associated microbes: its regulation by introduced biofilms, In Plant Microbe Symbiosis. Ed: Arora NK. Springer. ISBN: 978-81-322-1286-7.