Piyumi Chathurika Wijepala

National Institute of Fundamental Studies - Sri Lanka | NIFS · Microbial Biotechnology Unit

By the end of the 21st century, global surface temperatures expected to rise by ca. 1.8-3.6° C due to accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere at higher rates. Excessive use of chemical inputs in modern agriculture is one of the major contributors, because it leads to degrade soil microbial diversity that causes soil carbon loss, and emit C to the atm...

Microbes in nature exist as mixed microbial consortia rather than pure isolated cultures. These consortia show differentiation of function and division of labor. Microbes involved in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and in planta (endophytes) play a vital role in determining the various plant–microbe interactions in an ecosystem, a factor which has m...

The economic benefits of strawberry production with the application of monocultures of Aspergillus sp. and Enterobactor sp. and their mixed cultures (fungal-bacterial biofilm; BF) were calculated in comparison to the recommended dosage of chemical fertilizers (CFs) in a pot experiment. In terms of productivity, strawberry yield with BF coupled with...

Lost soil biodiversity in croplands can be reinstated by using microbial biotechnological methods. Conventional agricultural practices collapse diversity of soil microbial communities. This may lead to decline in crop productivity and sustainability. Direct application of developed fungal-bacterial communities known as biofilmed biofertilizers (BFB...

Natural microbial diversity performs many ecological services in addition to helping producing valuable plants and animals. Examples include recycling of nutrients, control of microclimate, regulation of undesirable organisms, and detoxification of noxious chemicals. However, due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, biodiversity is declining...

Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) has become a very serious health problem in some parts of Sri Lanka. The causative factors and etiology of this disease therefore is still considered uncertain. Paddy cultivation is one of the key economic sectors in the areas where the CKDu has spread. Cadmium (Cd) contamination and high fluoride (...

Carbofuran has been detected in ground, surface and rain waters, in soils, air, foods and wildlife as a result of its widespread use. Therefore, the degradation process of Carbofuran is very important to maintain the balance of the ecosystem and its sustainability. In soils, biodegradation of Carbofuran is activated by bacterial populations, partic...

Microorganisms are of great importance in the production of industrial enzymes, such as amylase, cellulase, protease, lipase, etc. Amylases are of the most important enzymes used in Biotechnology. These starch degrading amylolytic enzymes are vital in industries dealing with food, fermentation, textile, paper, pharmaceuticalsand sugar. Microbial en...

Any natural ecosystem (e.g. a forest) is composed of a food web-based network of interactions of organisms. Nutrients are conserved in the ecosystems by cycling them in producers-consumers-decomposers loops.Thus, food web-based network of interactions of microbes, flora and fauna is the key for the ecosystem sustainability. As long as all the inter...

Conventional agricultural practices collapsed the diversity of the microbial communities. This may lead to decline in crop productivity as soil microorganisms play an amazing role in plant growth and productivity. Direct application of developed fungal-bacterial communities known as “biofilmed biofertilizers” has been introduced recently which redu...

Soil ecosystem deteriorates due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, which interrupt the ecosystem functions and its sustainability. As a consequence of this disturbed soil system, plant and microbial seed bank may become dormant contributing to low below-and above-ground diversity. The present experiment was conducted to observe the effect o...

Heavy chemical fertilizer application is a common practice in strawberry. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of microbes originated from the strawberry rhizosphere; a fungal strain (F) a bacterial strain (B), three simple fungal - bacterial biofilmd (BF1 - BF3) and one higher order fungal bacterial biofilm (HO), on the growth of stra...