Prof. Nilanthi Dahanayake

Professor

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

Research Interests

Qualifications

PhD | University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
BSc in Agriculture | University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

Biography

Prof. Nilanthi Dahanayake is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. Her research focuses on plant tissue culture, plant breeding, and plant sciences. She has made significant contributions to the in vitro culture and polyploidy induction of purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea ), including the successful induction of tetraploid, hexaploid, and octaploid plants through colchicine treatments. Her work also encompasses the tissue culture and regeneration of crops including dragon fruit, tomato, and Impatiens balsamina , as well as studies on traditional Sri Lankan rice cultivars, the effects of mycorrhizae on crop growth, and neglected and underutilised fruit crops in Sri Lanka.

Journal Publications

Total: 24

Manawadu, I. P., Nilanthi, D., & Senanayake, S. (2016). Callus formation and organogenesis of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. variety Thilina). Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension.

Chen, X., Nilanthi, D., Yang, Y., & Wu, H. (2016). Anther culture and plant regeneration of tetraploid purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 4(12), 68–73.

Nilanthi, D., & Alawathugoda, C. J. (2016). Influence of mycorrhizae and inorganic fertilizer on plant growth and yield components of two Sri Lankan traditional rice accessions (Oryza sativa L.). Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 19(2).

Chen, X. L., Nilanthi, D., Yang, Y. S., Li, D. L., Zhang, J. J., & Li, Q. L. (2016). Induced polyploidy under in vitro conditions and highly efficacious screening of hexaploids in purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench). Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 19(1).

Perera, P. C. D., & Dahanayake, N. (2016). Chromosome observation of rice root tip and effect of callus colour variation and texture in different colchicine concentrations on the induction of rice polyploids. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, 5(1).

Nilanthi, D., Inoka, K. P. I., & Dissanayaka, D. M. P. (2016). Effect of benzyl aminopurine and kinetin hormones on vegetative and reproductive growth of two Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.); Suwadal and Kaluheenati. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 17(3–4).

Dahanayake, N. (2015). Some neglected and underutilized fruit-crops in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 5(2).

Dahanayake, N., & Yang, Y. S. (2015). In vitro induction of octaploid from colchicine-treated tetraploid petiole explants of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 16(1).

Nilanthi, D., & Alawathugoda, C. J. (2015). Effect of mycorrhizae, NPK and compost on vegetative and reproductive parameters of soybean (Glycine max L.). International Journal of Scientific Research and Publications, 5(5).

Nilanthi, D., Inoka, K. P. I., & Dissanayaka, D. M. P. (2015). Vegetative and reproductive growth of some selected vegetables with legumes under mono-cropping vs mix-cropping and determine the soil microbial activity. International Journal of Scientific Research and Publications, 5(3).

Nilanthi, D., Alawathugoda, C. J., & Madhushani, P. (2015). Effects of water stress on yield and some yield components of three selected oil crops; groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). International Journal of Scientific Research and Publications, 5(2).

Nilanthi, D., Inoka, K., & Madhushani, P. (2015). Effect of weeds Diya Siyambala (Aeschynomene indica), Kudamatta (Fimbristylis miliacea) and Thunassa (Cyperus iria) on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). International Journal of Scientific Research and Publications, 5(2).

Nilanthi, D., Perera, P. C. D., & Gunarathna, P. (2015). Study the response of drought stress inducing by mannitol in germination to seedling stage of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) variety MI5 and variety Harsha. International Journal of Scientific Research and Publications, 5(4).

Nilanthi, D., & Yang, Y. S. (2014). Effects of sucrose and other additives on in vitro growth and development of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). Advances in Biology, 2014, Article 402309.

Manawadu, I. P., & Dahanayake, N. D. (2014). Morphological evaluation of colchicine induced polyploidy of in vitro grown Impatiens balsamina L. (Balsaminaceae; n=7).

Perera, P. C. D., & Dahanayake, N. D. (2014). Response of some selected indica rice (Oryza sativa L. spp. indica) cultivars in response to drought stress induced by mannitol.

Manawadu, I. P., & Dahanayake, N. D. (2014). Effect of mannitol on seedling growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) under in vitro condition.

Kodikara, K. A. S., Jayatissa, L. P., Huxham, M., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Amarasingha, U. G. S., & Dahanayake, N. (2013). Agronomic characters of some traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars in Sri Lanka. Journal of the University of Ruhuna, 1(1).

Dahanayake, N., & Ranawake, A. L. (2012). Regeneration of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) plantlets from leaf and stem explants. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension.

Dahanayake, N., Chen, X. L., Zhao, F. C., & Yang, Y. S. (2011). An efficient in vitro propagation system for purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 13(2).

Dahanayake, N., Chen, X. L., Zhao, F. C., & Yang, Y. S. (2011). Separation of tetraploid and diploid plants from chimeras in in-vitro cultures of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension.

Nilanthi, D., Chen, X. L., Zhao, F. C., & Yang, Y. S. (2009). Induction of tetraploids from petiole explants through colchicine treatments in Echinacea purpurea L. BioMed Research International, 2009, Article 343485.

Nilanthi, D., Chen, X. L., & Yang, Y. S. (2009). Evaluation for plant regeneration potential of root explants in Echinacea purpurea. Journal of South China Agricultural University, 30(1).

Zhao, F. C., Nilanthi, D., Yang, Y. S., & Wu, H. (2006). Anther culture and haploid plant regeneration in purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 86, 167–173.

Conference Publications

Total: 3

Nilanthi, D., Chen, X. L., Zhao, F. C., & Yang, Y. S. (2009). Influence of gene dose on in vitro culture responses of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). 3rd International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering, IEEE.

Open

Perera, P., Athapattu, A., & Nilanthi, D. (2017). Preservation of Exacum ritigalensis (Binara/Ginihiriya) flower using glycerin. Agricultural Extension Journal.

Samarakkody, R.M., Silva, Tharanga, Jayaweera, S.,, Dahanayake, N. Socio-economic and environmental impacts of International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa.