Neelamanie Yapa

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Senior Lecturer at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

The synergistic interactions between rhizosphere microorganisms may be beneficial, harmful, or neutral for the plant and those effects can be varying with both biotic and abiotic parameters of the plant root rhizosphere micro-environment. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) interact with other beneficial microbes in soil and significantly enhance th...

Accumulation and concentration of contaminants in the soil have long been a byproduct of industrialisation and urbanisation, and which has become a primary environmental concern. Mitigation of soil pollutants using chemical procedures and their long-term application have originated a detrimental impact on all ecosystems. The application of green te...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) represent a critical component of terrestrial ecosystems, forming symbiotic relationships with the majority of plant species. This mutualistic association has profound implications for sustainable agriculture, as it enhances nutrient uptake, improves plant health, and contributes to soil structure and fertility. T...

The Global Consortium for the Classification of Fungi and fungus-like taxa is an international initiative of more than 550 mycologists to develop an electronic structure for the classification of these organisms. The members of the Consortium originate from 55 countries/regions worldwide, from a wide range of disciplines, and include senior, mid-ca...

In this study, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield responses of Sri Lankan lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) with the application of beneficial Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum and intercropping with highly mycorrhizal-dependent vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) under two different soil nutrient manage...

This article is the 15th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 115 taxa from three phyla, nine classes, 28 orders, 48 families, and 64 genera are treated. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include a new family, five new genera, 61 new species, five new combinations, one synonym, one new variety and 31 r...

Fungal diversity notes 1611–1716

Sri Lanka is considered a mega-biodiversity hotspot, with a rich collection of flora and fauna. Basidiomycota is the second largest and most diverse phylum of fungi, comprising over 31,000 species. The present paper is intended to bring together all reported species with their typification details and updated/current nomenclature status of basidiom...

In this study, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield responses of Sri Lankan lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) with the application of beneficial Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum, and inter-cropping with highly mycorrhizal dependent vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) under two different soil nutrient mana...

Despite being a biodiversity-rich country, Sri Lanka’s fungal diversity remains largely unexplored. In the 19th century, British mycologists conducted extensive research, leading to the identification of more than 1,800 fungal taxa, including ascomycetous and basidiomycetous species. However, the majority of these taxa have not been revisited since...

The objective of the study was to isolate cellulase producing bacteria from natural sources and identify the bacterial isolates that produce thermostable enzyme. Bacteria were isolated from samples collected from different locations like mango leaf litter, termite gut, composting yard (municipal solid waste, compost, and soil), soil from decaying p...

As phosphorus (P) bioavailability is limited in arable lands, chemical fertilizers are being used by farmers to increase crop production. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) increase the bioavailability of sparingly soluble inorganic and organic soil phosphorus. Therefore, the current study was an effort to evaluate the phosphate-solubiliz...

This study assessed the potential uptake of soil-contaminated heavy metals by Azolla pinnata and Lemna gibba in combination with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in traditional and improved rice varieties. Total levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) in soil, rice roots, shoots, grains, A. pinnata, and L. gi...

Most of the dry zone forests in Sri Lanka are arisen after unsustainable farming practices. Therefore, the natural regeneration of plant species in these forests reported to be very poor due to the reduced soil fertility. This study was conducted to find possible measures for the successful seed germination and seedling establishment of common dry...

Skin inhabiting microbes mostly non-pathogenic and commensals on the skin. Among them Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans often responsible for symptomatic skin infections. Cellulites, impetigo, ecthyma, red lesions and candidiasis are some of the common microbial skin diseases caused by skin pathogens. Wood apple (L...

Azolla species are the world's smallest but most commercially significant, macrophytes, which float on the water surface and are found in freshwater and brackish waters. Azolla is one of the fastest growing plants on the globe, and it can double its surface area every 5 to 10 days, making it an extremely valuable resource. Anabaena azollae, a cyano...

The present study was conducted to evaluate the water quality of the inlet, irrigation outlet, and edges linked to Nuwarawewa reservoir, Mahakanadarawa reservoir, Hurulu wewa reservoir, Sangilikandarawa reservoir, and Nachchaduwa perennial reservoir in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Water samples were taken from a designated position of each inlet, irrig...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to maintain the sustainability of rice cultivation via maintaining soil health. The objective of this study was to produce an AMF-based biofertilizer for the rice variety Bg350 using indigenous dominant species of AMF that are adapted to paddy wetland soil conditions in dry, wet, and intermediat...

The present study was conducted to evaluate the water quality of the inlet, irrigation outlet, and edges linked to Nuwarawewa reservoir, Mahakanadarawa reservoir, Hurulu wewa reservoir, Sangilikandarawa reservoir, and Nachchaduwa perennial reservoir in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Water samples were taken from a designated position of each inlet, irrig...

The coevolution of mycorrhizae with plants represents a major evolutionary adaptation to the land environment. As a bioinoculant, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a beneficial role in sustainable agriculture by symbiotically associating with many crop plants. In this review, we primarily focus on the nutritional and non-nutritional functiona...

Simple Summary Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a serious threat to aquatic environments. The intensive expansion of HABs across the world is a warning signal of environmental deterioration. Global climatic change enforced variations in environmental factors causing stressed environments in aquatic ecosystems that favor the occurrence, distribution,...

As a main component of soil microbiota arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a benefi cial role in the agro-ecosystems. Introduction of AMF inoculum as a biofertilizer to the rice cultivation system is one of the environmentally healthy solutions that may increase crop productivity and yield, when compare to the non-AMF relationships. Within an e...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soil-borne fungi that form mutualistic symbiosis with plant roots, and can signifi cantly improve plant nutrient uptake and increase resistance to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Though most rice cultivation systems involved submerged growing conditions, researchers are exploring the potential of AMF colo...

Environmental changes and heavy metal pollution are some of the consequences of anthropogenic activities. Many ecosystems, including edaphic ecosystems, suffer from the effects of pollution. The accurate assessment of soil heavy metal contamination leads to better approaches for remediating soils. The exploration of different ways, including biolog...

Next generation biofertilizers: Challenges and solutions

Although biofertilizers have been used for an exceptionally long time, challenges still remain in using them to phase out chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers generate environmental pollution and negatively impact beneficial organisms as well as human and animal wellbeing, causing a paradigm shift towards safer improved biofertilizers. Hence,...

Chemical fertilizers have been extensively used in Sri Lanka, and they have contributed to the pollution of groundwater and soil. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to reduce the potential risk of toxic metal contamination of rice farming through sustainable nutrient management, with the scope of replacing the conventional chemical fertili...

Postharvest diseases of fruits due to fungi are known to be the main factor that limits the storage period of the fruits. Synthetic chemical fungicides are commonly applied to control postharvest losses of fruits after harvesting. Natural antifungal plant extracts are less hazardous alternatives for the synthetic fungicides due to their safety and...

Postharvest diseases of fruits due to fungi are known to be the main factor that limits the storage period of the fruits. Synthetic chemical fungicides are commonly applied to control postharvest losses of fruits after harvesting. Natural antifungal plant extracts are less hazardous alternatives for the synthetic fungicides due to their safety and...

Cereal production is an important source of food and is expected to play a key role in meeting the needs of the world population. Maize is a major cereal faced on drought induced yield losses. AMF assisted maize to withstand moderate drought stress and to recover rapidly when irrigation was restored. Plants colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizae might i...

Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between a soil-borne fungus and plant root. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most common type of mycorrhizal associations occurring in plants. AMF can increase plant growth mainly by improving nutrient uptake and making plants resistant to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, AMF could be refer...

Human activities have introduced large amounts of heavy metals into natural ecosystems in recent years. As a result, the accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids in plants, animals, and humans, which may have caused some health problems. Chemical and physical methods can remove the heavy metal in contaminated soil, but both are very expensive an...

Alterations of healthy soil properties can result from land degradation. However, application of some grass species that are colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), such as vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.), can mitigate the negative impacts of soil degradation. The present study evaluated the ability of AMF-colonized vetiver to impro...

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers contain cadmium (Cd) as a contaminant at levels varying from trace amounts to high levels and therefore, can be a major source of Cd to agricultural systems. This study was designed to assess the impact on application of Eppawala rock phosphate (ERP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) as P fertilizers and different soil ame...

Rice is considered as the most important food crop in Sri Lanka and most of the Asian countries. Over the past three decades, rice farmers have become increasingly dependent on synthetic chemical phosphorous fertilizers, mainly triple super phosphate (TSP) as a source of phosphorous (P). However, dramatically increasing costs, serious environmental...

A large number of comparison studies of soybean production in the world revealed that the organic production was equivalent to, and in many cases better than, conventional. In the drier climates organic systems had higher yields than conventional. When comparing the profitability of farming systems, it was found that organic cropping systems were a...

Aims: This study was aimed to compare aquatic weed, biochar and compost carrier substances for the development of effective pelleted biofertilizer for paddy (Oryza sativa L.) using co-inoculated bacteria, Azospirillum sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajar...

Pectobacterium carotovorum is the most common causative organism of bacterial soft rot which gives rise to great economic losses. It is important to implement disease control measures and management strategies on this bacterium in order to prevent further crop loss. Among the various management strategies, using the antibacterial nature of spices o...

Pot experiment was carried out in dry zone of Sri Lanka in the year 2015 with the aim of investigating the effects of organic manure, biofertilizers and synthetic fertilizer application on growth, yield and seed nutrient quality of soybean (Glycine max L.). Treatments were field soil only (T0), field soil and 5% biochar (T1), field soil and 5% cow...

Bacterial foodborne diseases are becoming a growing public health concern worldwide, increasing the demand of antibiotics. Considering the safety of using natural antimicrobials, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of selected marine algae extracts against foodborne bacteria. Whole marine algae samples of C...

Marine algae are produced wide variety of bioactive compounds and some of them can be used to development of antibacterial novel drugs. The present study was aimed to evaluate antimicrobial activity of some marine algae extracts from west coast of Sri Lanka. Pure cultures of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococ...

With the climatic changes, occurrence of drought has become a major problem in agriculture, which leads to scarcity of surface as well as groundwater which negatively affects the physiological responses of plants. Therefore, farmers need to find ways to preserve groundwater for dry years. Groundwater can be preserved for dry years by reducing groun...

Contamination of water with heavy metals is a rising concern for human health and the environment. Removal of heavy metal contaminants in soil- water environment is challenging. Therefore, feasible and effective methods are needed to remove those contaminants from soil and water. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are specific rhizospheric microorg...

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)-glycine] is a broad-spectrum non-selective herbicide that is commonly used to control perennial weeds in agriculture. Glyphosate losses to the environment are undesirable because of possible environmental hazards - e.g. soil and water contamination. It is important to develop methods for enhancing glyphosate degradat...

Rice (Oryza sativa billion people in Asia and hundreds of millions in Africa and Latin America. Understanding the effects of eco-farming practices for rice growing would be important concepts of sustainability. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the organic amendments, phosphate rock and the microbial inoculant applica...

Sri Lanka has an enormous diversity of medicinal plants, and most are in dry zone forests. Mihintale sanctuary has some of the widely used medicinal plants in our ayurvedic system. Vesicular Arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) is the most abundant form of mycorrhiza and, plays a very important role in enhancing plant growth by increased nutrient uptake. Th...

Maize is the third most important cereal under global cultivation, after wheat and rice. Maize grain yields in the temperate developed world average 8.2 ton/ha, vs. 3.5 ton/ha in tropical less developed countries. In both production environments, drought is the most important abiotic stress constraining and destabilizing maize grain production. In...