Prof. Nisha Kottearachchi

Professor

Department of Biotechnology
Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka,
Makandura, Gonawila (NWP

Office: +94 3122 99704
Mobile: +94 7181 22228
Email: kottearachchins@yahoo.com, nisha@wyb.ac.lk

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Dr. Menuka Udugama

Dr. Kottearachchi graduated in 1993 obtaining a BSc (Agriculture) degree with second Class Upper Division (Honors) from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. In 1995 she was awarded the Presidential scholarship by his Excellency the President for MSc in Genetic Engineering. In 2001, she was absorbed to the academic staff of the Department of Biotechnology at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, where she presently holds the position of Professor in Biotechnology. In 2008 she received PhD degree from the Graduate school of Iwate University, Japan. She received the Academic Excellence Award 2007 from the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo for her PhD study. She was awarded a Commonwealth Academic Fellowship as Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Bangor University, United Kingdom. She was holding the Head of the Department of Biotechnology position from 2008 to 2011. Presently, she has been involving in research mainly with plant genomics

Full CV

  • Whole genome sequencing,
  • Gene/QTL mapping,
  • Plant tissue culture.
  • Gene transformation and transgenic plants
  1. NSF Certificate of Commendation under Biotechnology Category 2019
  2. Wayamba University Research Awards – Merit Category 2017
  3. NSF SUSRED Award 2018
  4. Sri Lanka Council for Agriculture Research Policy awards for excellence in Agricultural Research 2017 – Third prize
  5. National Research Council -Merit Awards 2014 and 2016
  6. Commonwealth Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in United Kingdom 2011/12
  7. Academic Excellence Award 2007- awarded by the United Nation University, Tokyo
  8. Short term scholarship awarded by International Centre for Genetic Engineering (ICGEB), Italy for the participation of the workshop titled “Strategic approaches in the evaluation of the science underpinning GMO regulatory decision making” held at ICGEB, Italy from 1-5 July 2013
  9. Traveling fellowship award by National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka for the participation of workshop on ‘Strategic Approaches in the Evaluation of the Science Underpinning GMO Regulatory Decision-making’ from 1-5 July 2013 atTrieste, Italy
  10. Travel grant award by National Science Foundation for the participation of the Rice Congress 2010 (IRC2010) held on November 8-12, 2010 at the National Convention Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
  11. 400US $ as registration fee for the participation of the 3rd International Rice Research Conference (IRRC28) held on November 8-12, 2010 at the National Convention Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
  12. Short term scholarship awarded by Cairo University for the participation of the training course titled “Recent Advances in Biotic Stress Tolerance in Plants” held at Genetic Engineering Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University from 13th to 20th February 2010 in Cairo, Egypt
  13. Short term scholarship from Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, for the participation of the training course titled “Biotechnology in agriculture: Plants and Microorganisms” held from 13th January to 2nd March 2004
  14. Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Fellowship awarded by Rotary Club, Japan from 2007 to 2008
  15. Presidential Scholarship for MSc post graduate study awarded by his Excellency the President of Sri Lanka from 1996 to 1998 for an MSc in Thailand.

Selected publications in refereed journal

  • Withana, W., Kularathna R., Kottearachchi, N., Kekulandara D., Weerasena, J., and Steele K (2020). In silico analysis of the fragrance gene (badh2) in Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) gemplasm and validation of allele specific markers. Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization, 18(2): 71-80, doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262120000015
  • W. Warnakula, NS Kottearachchi, K Yakandawala (2017) Morphological, SSR and ISSR marker based genetic diversity assessment of mountain papaya germplasm in comparison with Carica papaya, Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 45(3): 255–264. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v45i3.8190
  • M.S. Dissanayaka, N.S. Kottearachchi, O.V.D.S.J. Weerasena and W.A.M. Peiris. (2014) Development of a CAPs marker for badh2.7 allele in Sri Lankan Fragrant rice. Plant Breeding. 153(5) 560- 565
  • Noda, N.S. Kottearachchi, S. Tsuda, M. Mori, S. Takigawa, C. Matsuura-Endo, S. Kim, N. Hashimoto, and H. Yamauchi, (2007) Starch phosphorus content in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars and its effect on other starch properties. Carbohydrate Polymers 68: 793-796
  • N.S. Kottearachchi, N. Uchino, K. Kato, H. Miura, (2006) Increased grain dormancy in whitegrained wheat by introgression of preharvest sprouting tolerance QTLs. Euphytica 152: 421- 428.

Conference Proceedings

  • D.M.S.W. Dissanayaka, N.S. Kottearachchi, D.R. Gimhani and B.P. Abeywickrama (2019) Exploring Genetic Variations with InDels for Salinity Tolerance in Selected Genes of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm and Assessment of Morpho-Physiological Parameters Proceedings of 18th Agricultural Research Symposium (2019) 236-240

  • H.A.C.R. Hanchapola, N.S. Kottearachchi1, D.R. Gimhani and S.A.D.P. Senadheera (2019). Analysis Of Polymorphic Single Nucleotides In The Selected Genes Related To Salt Tolerance In Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Proceedings of 18th Agricultural Research Symposium (2019) 241- 245

  • D.M.K.S. Hemathilaka, J.K.R.R. Samarasekara, H.D.S.M. Perera and N.S. Kottearachchi (2019) Development of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Based Formulations for Industrial Application Proceedings of 18th Agricultural Research Symposium (2019) 246-249

  • J.W. Welagedara, D.R. Gimhani, N.S. Kottearachchi and J.A.A.C. Wijesinghe. (2019) Allelic Diversity Of Rc Gene Regulating Pigmentation In Sri Lankan Rice Germplasm Proceedings Of 18th Agricultural Research Symposium (2019) 295-299

  • R.M.N.P. Rathnayake, N.S. Kottearachchi And H.M.I.K. Herath (2019)Assessment of Herbal Extracts for Inhibition of Nitrification Rate: An Approach towards the Development of Urea Protector, Proceedings of 18th Agricultural Research Symposium (2019) 314-318

 

 

    Postgraduate Supervision

    • PhD Student supervision: Ms. Buddini Abeyawickrama at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. Title of the Thesis: QTL map based candidate gene discovery for salt tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa)- On going
    • PhD student Supervision: Ms Suvanthini Terensan at Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Title: Genomic diversity of rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae in Sri Lanka and mapping of host resistance in rice germplasm. On-going
    • PhD Student supervision: Ms. DR Gimhani at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka in collaboration with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Title of the Thesis: Identification of Salinity tolerant QTLs in rice- Completed
    • M.Phil student Supervision: Ms. Buddhika Dahanayake at WUSL at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka Title of the thesis: Molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci associated with salinity tolerance using a RIL population of rice- Completed
    • MSc student Supervision: Ms WAM Peiris at Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo. Title of the MSc Research project: Identification of allelic diversity in Badh2 locus of traditional rice varieties in Sri Lanka- Completed
    • MSc student Supervision: Ms Gayani Fonseka (Reg: MLS-11-003). Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo. Title of the MSc Research project: DNA barcoding and analysis of Latex protein profile of Sri Lankan mountain papaya– Completed
    • MSc student Supervision: Mr. Adnan Ahmad. Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo. Title of the MSc Research project: Designing of InDel markers and applicability study of InDel marker in varietal differentiation of Sri Lankan rice- Completed
    • M.Phil student Supervision: Ms DBRS Menike at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka Title of the MPhil thesis: In vitro– propagation and induction of micro rhizomes of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc)- Completed

    Research Grants

    • Principal investigator of the grant awarded by the National Research Council, Sri Lanka (NRC 16-16) on “QTL map based candidate gene discovery for salt tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa)” Period: 2016 -2019
    • Principal investigator of the grant awarded by the National Research Council, Sri Lanka (NRC 09-11) on “ Identification and Characterization of Fragrant gene in Sri Lankan Rice“, Period: 2009 -2011
    • Principal investigator of the grant awarded by the National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (RG/2011/BT/02) on “Molecular mapping for improved salinity tolerance in rice”, Period: 2012- 2015
    • Principal investigator of the Research Grant (SRHDC/RP/01/10-05) awarded by Wayamba University; Title: Identification of salinity tolerant QTLs in elite rice background., Period: 2010- 2011
    • Principal investigator of the Research Grant (SRHDC/RP/04/13-17) awarded by Wayamba University; Title: Characterization of Mountain Papaya in comparison with Carica papaya cultivars using morphological, inter-simple sequence repeat and simple sequence repeat markers., Period: 2013 to 2016
    • Principal investigator of the Research Grant (SRHDC/RP/04/16-04) awarded by Wayamba University; Title: Genetic analysis of root traits using recombinant inbred line population derived from At354 x Bg352 in rice., Period: 2016 to 2018