Nirodha Weeraratne

Nirodha Weeraratne
Charles Sturt University

PhD
Research Associate Gulbali Intitute Charles Sturt University

About

9
Publications
1,726
Reads
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48
Citations
Introduction
Early career researcher, interested in plant-microbial interactions, plant pathology, plant microbiome, biofilms and microbial inoculants. Work experience with plant pathogenic bacteria, biofilms, microbial biofertilizers, microbiology, bacteriology and soil science. Brief involvement in university teaching and community-based development. Studied Molecular and applied microbiology and Agriculture.
Additional affiliations
June 2018 - March 2020
University of Southern Queensland 
Position
  • PostDoc Position
Description
  • Developing Rice Growing Packages for Tropical North Australia
July 2012 - December 2017
Charles Sturt University
Position
  • PhD Student
Description
  • Investigating Host preferences and Pathogenomics of Pseudomonas fuscovaginae in Australia.
August 2010 - June 2012
National Institute of Fundamental Studies - Sri Lanka
Position
  • Research Assistant
Description
  • Developing Biofilmed Biofertilizers for Rice cultivation and Forest-tree nurseries in Sri Lanka.
Education
July 2012 - December 2017
Charles Sturt University
Field of study
  • Plant Pathology
November 2009 - March 2012
University of Peradeniya
Field of study
  • Molecular and Applied Microbiology
August 2004 - May 2009
Faculty of Agricuture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
Field of study
  • Agricuture

Publications

Publications (9)
Article
Full-text available
The introduction of numerous exotic dung beetles across southern Australia in regions where native dung beetles are not generally efficient in processing livestock dung has resulted in significant reductions in the quantity of such dung on the soil surface in recent years. However, the direct impacts of such ecosystem services on pasture quality an...
Poster
Full-text available
Grain discolouration can be attributed to both fungi and bacteria, where previous studies have largely ignored the involvement of bacterial pathogens in grain discolouration in northern Queensland (QLD). However, a few reports shown the involving bacteria in grain discolouration in southern New South Wales. The purpose of this study was to investig...
Article
Pseudomonas fuscovaginae, first reported from Japan in 1976, is now present in many agro-ecological regions around the world; it causes sheath brown rot of rice and is reported as a pathogen of a broad range of hosts. The pathogen can infect rice plants at all stages of growth and is known to cause significant losses due to grain discoloration, poo...
Chapter
Microorganisms use dormancy as a tactic to evade from unfavourable fluctuations of environment conditions, which results in a voluminous soil seed bank of coexisting species. This has now been well proven with the advent of molecular techniques. Sporadic resuscitation of the dormant microbes contributes to maintain ecosystem functioning. The interc...
Article
Full-text available
Inorganic arsenic (As) pesticides have been widely used for decades in many countries. However, insufficient data are available on the chemical speciation of inorganic arsenicals in tropical paddy soils. Inorganic As-containing pesticides were used in tropical countries, a few decades ago, however, their fate have not been studied. Hence, the objec...
Conference Paper
In Sri Lanka, forest cover is declining at a rate of 1.5%, annually. In order to sustain the forest cover of 29%, reforestation efforts have been undertaken using native or exotic plant species. However, nursery plants face up to 50% failure in establishment in reforestation. Incapability of exotic species to establish in sufficient numbers on degr...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
A biofilmed biofertilizer (BFBF) was prepared using four rice root-associated N2 fixing and acid forming soil bacteria and two fungi. In the preliminary trials, the BFBF when used along with 50% of recommended chemical fertilizers was able to give grain yields comparable to 100% recommended chemical fertilizers. In order to extend the benefits of t...
Conference Paper
Global demand for rice in 2025 is predicted to reach 140 million metric tons. The issue of rice cultivation therefore, is to increase and sustain production, without elevating cost of production. Although, farmers use excessive amounts of chemical fertilizers, fertilizer responsiveness of rice crop has shown a declining trend. 15N isotope studies h...
Conference Paper
A common constraint in growing coarse-grained cereals and upland rice in the dry zone of Sri Lanka is the inability of farmers to supply adequate plant nutrients to these crops, owing to poverty, high cost of chemical fertilizers, and the risk and uncertainty affiliated with such crops. A biofilmed biofertilizer (BFBF) developed for rice at the Ins...

Questions

Question (1)
Question
A colleague is working on soil microbial populations in Roundup Ready soybean fields, and found that the actual number of bacteria are high with transgenic varieties than with the other varieties (genetically closest to transgenics). Although he is yet to look at the microbial diversity indices, I found this a huge plus point for Roundup Ready crops. Would like know if anyone has made similar observations.

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