Prof. Sudarshanee Geekiyanage

Prof. Sudarshanee Geekiyanage serves as a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Biology within the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. Her scholarly contributions focus on plant molecular biology, crop genetics, and agricultural biotechnology, with a distinct emphasis on characterizing indigenous Sri Lankan crop germplasm to improve climate resilience and agricultural production. A central thread of her published research addresses photoperiod sensitivity and flowering time genetics in Sri Lankan traditional rice accessions. Her empirical studies map how photoperiodic response influences crop architecture, vegetative period, and yield components, providing genetic foundational work necessary for breeding adaptable, early-maturing rice varieties. Her research team authored resource guides on the varietal diversity of Sri Lanka's traditional rice varieties based on traditional rice characterization data. In perennial crop genetics, Prof. Geekiyanage has driven characterization efforts for Ceylon cinnamon ( Cinnamomum verum ) across Sri Lanka. Her team's studies integrate morphological, chemical, and molecular profiling to establish structured mini-core germplasm collections, enabling efficient conservation of genetic diversity and systematic selection of specific chemotypes of industrial importance for breeding programs. Her functional molecular biology background includes studies on flowering time regulatory pathways, specifically analyzing floral regulator genes like CONSTANS ( CO ) in Arabidopsis thaliana . Her work in plant metabolic engineering demonstrated the activation of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway through the transgenic expression of the grape transcription factor VlmybA2 in model plant systems. Her research further extends to applied plant-microbe interactions, evaluating local plant growth-promoting bacteria and Bradyrhizobium strains to enhance nutrient uptake and yield in sustainable cropping systems.

Awards