priyanwada73@yahoo.com nalika@agbio.ruh.ac.lk nalika@agri.ruh.ac.lk

+94 71 868 0678

Prof. Nalika Priyanwada Ranathunge

Professor

Department of Agricultural Biology,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna,
Mapalana, Kamburupitiya,
Sri Lanka (81100).

Research Interests

Qualifications

PhD in Plant Pathology | University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
BSc in Agriculture | University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Biography

Prof. Nalika Priyanwada Ranathunge is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. Her research specialises in plant pathology and microbiology, with a particular focus on the biological control of fungal plant diseases. She has extensively studied anthracnose-causing Colletotrichum species affecting economically important crops including chilli, banana, and papaya, and has investigated the efficacy of bacterial antagonists—principally Burkholderia and Pseudomonas strains isolated from spent mushroom substrate and standard compost—as biocontrol agents. Her more recent work includes seed biopriming strategies for enhancing plant disease tolerance and managing phytopathogens.

Journal Publications

Total: 14

Sandani, H. B. P., Ranathunge, N. P., Lakshman, P. L. N., Jayasinghe, J. A. A. C., & Jayasekara, J. M. P. K. (2019). Biocontrol potential of five Burkholderia and Pseudomonas strains against Colletotrichum truncatum infecting chilli pepper. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 29(7), 670–686.

De Silva, D. D., Crous, P. W., Ades, P. K., Hyde, K. D., & Taylor, P. W. J. (2019). Identification, prevalence and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose of Capsicum annuum in Asia. IMA Fungus, 10(1), 8.

Sandani, H. B. P., Ranathunge, N. P., Lakshman, P. L. N., & Jayasinghe, J. A. A. C. (2017). Efficacy of selected bacterial antagonists (Burkholderia sp.) in managing Colletotrichum truncatum infection of chilli fruits. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience.

Ranathunge, N. P., & Sandani, H. B. P. (2016). Deceptive behaviour of Colletotrichum truncatum: strategic survival as an asymptomatic endophyte on non-host species. Journal of Plant Protection Research, 56(2), 122–127.

Ranathunge, N. P., Rajapaksha, R. J. K., Sandani, H. B. P., & Lakshman, P. L. N. (2016). Isolation, screening and in vitro evaluation of bacterial antagonists from spent mushroom substrate against Colletotrichum musae. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 18(2).

Yogarajah, K., Ranathunge, N. P., Sandani, H. B. P., & Weerasooriya, M. K. B. (2014). In vitro evaluation of antifungal potential of some plant extracts against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing papaya anthracnose disease. Plant Science and Technology.

Yogarajah, K., Ranathunge, N. P., & Sandani, H. B. P. (2014). Screening of bacterial antagonists present in spent mushroom substrate (SMS) for the control of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, causal agent of papaya anthracnose.

Nandani, M. G. T., Yogarajah, K., & Ranathunge, N. P. (2014). Evaluation of the fungicidal potential of some selected herbal extracts on Colletotrichum musae under in vitro conditions.

Sandani, H. B. P., Ranathunge, N. P., & Lakshman, P. L. N. (2014). Isolation and screening of potential antagonists from standard compost against Colletotrichum truncatum, causing anthracnose disease in chilli (Capsicum annuum).

Ranathunge, N.P., Rajapaksha, R.J.K., & Yogarajah, K. (2014) Isolation, screening and evaluation of bacterial antagonists from spent mushroom substrate against Colletotrichum musae. International Journal of Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 17(2): 69-76

Ranathunge, N.P., Mongkolporn, O., Ford, R., & Taylor, P.W.J. (2012) Colletotrichum truncatum pathosystems on Capsicum spp.: infection, colonization and defence mechanisms. Australasian Plant Pathology, 41(5): 463-473

Ranathunge, N.P., Ford, R., & Taylor, P.W.J. (2010) Development and optimization of sequence-tagged microsatellite site markers to detect genetic diversity within Colletotrichum capsici, a causal agent of chilli pepper anthracnose disease. Molecular Ecology Resources, 9(4): 1175-1179

Balagalla, D.N., Wijesuriya, A., Ranathunge, N.P., & Perera, A. (2015) Near-optimal levels of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and indole acetic acid for in-vitro direct regeneration of shoots from sugar-cane (Saccharum spp. Hybrid) leaf tissues. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 18(3): 112-116

Balagalla, D.N., Wijesuriya, A., Ranathunge, N.P., & Perera, A. (2017) A Protocol for In-vitro direct plant regeneration from leaf tissues for micropropagation of sugarcane. Tropical Agricultural Research, 29(1): 55-64

Books / Book Chapters

Total: 2

Ranathunge, N. P. (2022). Biopriming of seeds for plant disease tolerance and phytopathogen management. In: Murthy, N., Jogaiah, S. (eds) Microbial Biocontrol: Sustainable Agriculture and Phytobiome, Vol. 1. Springer, Cham.

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Ranathunge, N.P. & Hasara, H.P.T. (2024) Plant Elicitor Peptides as Amplifiers of Immune Responses Against Biotic Stressors. In: Singh, S., Mehrotra, R. (eds) Plant Elicitor Peptides. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-6374-0_1

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Conference Publications

Total: 32

Sandani, H.B.P., Ranathunge, N.P.,, Lakshman, P.L.N. Efficacy of five selected bacterial antagonists in suppressing foliar colonisation of Colletotrichum. [National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka]

Saththiya Sumexchen, Suvanthini Terensan, Kanapathy Gajapathy, Nalika Ranatunga and Arumugam Venkadaramana (2026) Lesion-type variation and disease severity of brown spot disease of rice in Northern Sri Lanka. International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Safety-2026, 12th-13th March 2026, Faculty of Agriculture, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

GDWAI Chinthamani, NP Ranathunge, WTSD Premachandra (2025) Characterization of Trichoderma spp. for the potential utilization as a biocontrol agent in managing root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. Book of Abstracts, Green to Green International Conference, 16 December 2025.

V.S. Kahandagamage, P.L.N. Lakshman, N.P. Ranathunge (2025) Production of xanthan gum from Xanthomonas campestris using locally available substrates. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2025.

W.P.T. Hasara and N.P. Ranathunge (2025) Antagonistic mechanism of Trichoderma spp. against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of white mold disease in soybean. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2025.

H.B.P. Sandani, N.P. Ranathunge, P.L.N. Lakshman, G. Degrassi and W.M.W. Weerakoon (2019) Biocontrol efficacy of two Bacillus species against chilli pepper anthracnose causal agent Colletotrichum truncatum. 22nd Global Congress on Biotechnology and 5th International Conference on Enzymology and Protein Chemistry, Feb 28 - March 2, 2019, Berlin, Germany.

HBP Sandani, NP Ranathunge, PLN Lakshman, W.M.W. Weerakoon (2017) Efficacy of selected bacterial antagonists (Burkholderia sp.) in managing Colletotrichum truncatum infection of chilli fruits. ISAE 2017, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2017, Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, 19 January 2017, pp 252-255.

Roshini U.H.R.R., N.P. Ranathunge and H.B.P. Sandani (2017) Evaluation of alternative culture media for Burkholderia multivorans: Strain F2; an antagonist of chilli anthracnose pathogen, Colletotrichum truncatum. Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Agriculture, 6th October 2017, Eastern University of Sri Lanka, pp 130-134.

Abeywickrama GDPD, Ranathunge N.P., Wasantha Kumara K.L. and Sandani HBP (2016) Cross infection potential of Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose in Solanum lycopersicum and Capsicum spp. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment (student session), 13th January 2016, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, p 8.

Atapattu AGKMWS, NP Ranathunge, Weerasooriya MKB, Sandani HBP (2016) Evaluation of volatile antifungal properties of some selected plant species in controlling anthracnose disease of banana at post-harvest stage. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment (student session), 13th January 2016, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, p 9.

Dilhani MI, Sandani H.B.P and Ranathunge N.P. (2016) Evaluation of two bacterial antagonists in controlling tomato damping off pathogen Rhizoctonia solani under in vitro and in vivo conditions. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, 13th January 2016, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, pp 73-75.

Balagalla BRMGWDN, Wijesuriya A., Ranathunge NP and Perera AMMS (2016) Plant growth regulators for in vitro direct plant regeneration from sugarcane leaf tissues. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, 13th January 2016, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, p 7.

Sandani H.B.P., Ranathunge N.P., Lakshman P.L.N., Weerakoon W.M.W. (2016) Efficacy of five selected bacterial antagonists in suppressing foliar colonization of Colletotrichum truncatum on Capsicum annuum. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, 13th January 2016, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, pp 40-43.

Madushanka BGR, Ranathunge N.P., Kumarasinghe HKMS and Sandani HBP (2016) Screening and evaluation of the potential use of Fusarium spp. for effective stimulation of resin production in Gyrinops walla. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, 13th January 2016, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, pp 49-52.

Sandani H.B.P., Ranathunge N.P., Lakshman P.L.N., Weerakoon W.M.W. (2016) Evaluation of the biocontrol activity of eight bacterial antagonists in reducing seed borne infection of Colletotrichum truncatum in chilli. 13th Academic Sessions of the Ruhuna University, Sri Lanka, 2nd March 2016, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, p 9.

Ranathunge N.P. (2016) Survival of Colletotrichum truncatum on foliage of six non-host plant species. 13th Academic Sessions of the Ruhuna University, Sri Lanka, 2nd March 2016, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, p 70.

Sandani H.B.P., Ranathunge N.P., Lakshman P.L.N., Weerakoon W.M.W. (2015) Isolation and screening of potential bacterial antagonists from forest floor soils against Colletotrichum truncatum causing anthracnose disease in chilli. Proceedings of 2nd Ruhuna International Science and Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, January 22-23, 2015, p 83.

Sandani H.B.P., Ranathunge N.P., Lakshman P.L.N., Weerakoon W.M.W. (2014) Isolation and screening of potential antagonists from standard compost against Colletotrichum truncatum causing anthracnose disease in chilli. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, 27th November 2014, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, pp 39-43.

Yogarajah K, Ranathunge N.P. and Sandani HBP (2014) Screening of bacterial antagonists present in spent mushroom substrate (SMS) for the control of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, causal agent of anthracnose disease in papaya. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, 27th November 2014, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, pp 63-66.

Rajapaksha R., Wasantha Kumara K.L., Ranathunge N.P. and Mannakkara A. (2014) Efficient management of pest and diseases including damage by wild animals. Technical Sessions of the OPA, 24th September 2014, Galadari Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

HBP Sandani, NP Ranathunge and PLN Lakshman (2014) Evaluation of the antagonistic nature of extracellular compounds secreted by some selected bacterial antagonists against Colletotrichum truncatum, the causal agent of anthracnose disease in chilli. Proceedings of the Young Scientist Forum Symposium 2014, pp 171-174.

MGT Nandani, K. Yogarajah, N.P. Ranathunge, M.K.W. Weerasooriya (2014) Evaluation of the fungicidal potential of some selected herbal extracts on Colletotrichum musae under in vitro conditions. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, Sri Lanka, 4th and 5th July 2014, p 512.

Rajapakshe J.C., Karunathilaka H.K.A., Gunathilake P.A.D.S.P., Ranathunge N.P. (2012) Efficient utilization of spent mushroom substrate for Pleurotus with special reference to urban agriculture. Proceedings of the Sri Lanka-India Conference on Agro Biotechnology for Sustainable Development, March 12-13, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka, p 19.

N.P. Ranathunge, S. Gunathilaka, J.C. Rajapaksha, R.J.K. Rajapaksha (2012) Screening of potential bacterial antagonism in aqueous extracts of spent oyster mushroom substrate against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing anthracnose disease in papaya. 9th Academic Sessions of the Ruhuna University, Sri Lanka, 22nd February 2012, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, p 71.

R.J.K. Rajapaksha, M.K.B. Weerasooriya and N.P. Ranathunge (2011) Detection of antifungal activity of five selected plant extracts against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on papaya. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, 09th November 2011, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, p 173.

Ranathunge, N.P., Ford, R. and Taylor, P.W.J. (2010) Sequence-tagged microsatellite site (STMS) marker based genetic diversity analysis of Colletotrichum capsici isolates from chilli (Capsicum) in Sri Lanka and India. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, p 14.

Ranathunge N.P. (2008) Genetic variation and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum capsici, causal agent of anthracnose disease in chilli pepper (Capsicum spp.). Faculty of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne, Proceedings of the Annual Postgraduate Conference, 14th-15th November 2008.

Ranathunge, N.P., Ford, R. and Taylor, P.W.J. (2008) Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum capsici on Capsicum annuum at different growth stages. Proceedings of the International Conference on Biotic Plant Interactions, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Brisbane, Australia, 27-29th March 2008.

Ranathunge, N.P., Ford, R. and Taylor, P.W.J. (2007) Development and optimization of a microsatellite marker library for Colletotrichum capsici, a major causal agent of anthracnose disease in chilli pepper. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Chilli Anthracnose, Hoam Faculty House, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, 17-19th March 2007.

Ranathunge, N.P., Ford, R. and Taylor, P.W.J. (2006) Infection of chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants by Colletotrichum capsici at early stages of growth. Proceedings of the 8th International Mycology Congress, 21-25 August 2006, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

Ranathunge, N.P., Ford, R. and Taylor, P.W.J. (2006) Differential infection processes of two pathotypes of Colletotrichum capsici on resistant and susceptible chilli genotypes (Capsicum spp.). Faculty of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne, Proceedings of the Annual Postgraduate Conference, 8th-9th November 2006.

Ranathunge, G.N.P., Bandara, D.C. and Premathilake, D. (2000) Callusing responses and plant regeneration capacity of Capsicum varieties. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Proceedings of the Annual Session 56, 27 November - 01 December 2000.