Dr. (Mrs.) L.K.R.R. Jayakody

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Lancaster University, United Kingdom; Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Special Degree in Botany, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Senior Lecturer (Grade I)

Plant Stress Physiology with special interest in Stomatal Physiology

Plant Stress Physiology with special interest in Stomatal Physiology

Senior Lecturer (Grade 1), Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open    University of Sri Lanka (April 2001 to present)

 Senior Lecturer (Grade II), Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka (April 1995 – April 2001)

Lecturer (Probationary), Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open  University of Sri Lanka (May 1986 – April 1995)

B.Sc. General Degree
Plant Growth and Development (BYU 5302) – 2019- to date
Post-harvest Technology of Fresh Produce (BYU 5308) -2019- to date

B.Sc. Special Degree in Botany
Advanced Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (BYU 4307) -2020- to date

Collaborations:

Project 1:

Co-investigator

Incorporation of selected essential oils into bio-safe fruit coatings to control anthracnose and enhance post-harvest quality of mango fruit cv.  Willard

Funding source: Faculty Research Grant 2018, The Open University of Sri Lanka

 

Project 2:

Co-investigator/Co-supervisor for an M.Phil.

Impact of induced temperature and water stress due to global warming on selected tissue-cultured crop plants

Funding source: Faculty Research Grant 2016, The Open University of Sri Lanka

 

Project 3:

Co-investigator

Effect of silicon treatment on diseases and quality of hydroponically grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Funding source: Faculty Research Grant 2009, The Open University of Sri Lanka 

 

Project 4:

Principal Investigator (collaborative work with Dr. Martin MaCAinish , Lancaster University, United Kingdom)

Stomatal behavior of salt sensitive and salt resistant mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana

Funding source: Association of Commonwealth Universities 2003

 

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH SUPERVISION

  •         M.Phil. ( April 2018)

 K.I.C. Amarasinghe (The Open University of Sri Lanka)    

Title: Impact of induced temperature and water stress due to global warming on selected tissue-cultured crop plants

  •         M.Phil. (In progress)

K.G.A. I. Rasanjali (The Open University of Sri Lanka)

Title: Identification of suitable irrigation intervals using a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) to combat water stress on selected crop plants exposed to induced temperature stress (Thesis submitted)

 

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SUPERVISION

o   Dinesha Withanaarchchi – Acclimatization of Citrus sinensis (Bibile sweet orange) plants propagated through in vitro shoot tip culture. Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

o   Shyamali Jayasena – Control of Banana fruit fungal pathogens using plant essential oils. Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

o   Sonali Jayawardena – Leaf anatomical studies of Munronia pinnata (wall.) Theob. (Meliaceae) morphotypes in Sri Lanka. Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

o   Virangi Kottegoda – Comparative study of the mechanisms of salt tolerance in cultivated rice and their wild relatives. Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

o   Y.M.C Nisansala –     Effect of potassium on anthracnose and stem-end rot disease of TomE JC mango (Mangifera indica L.). Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

o   V.P. Adikkalam – Effect of plant growth regulators on the post-harvest quality of vanilla (Vanilla fragrance L.) pods. Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

o   Amila Mananadeva – Management of pineapple mealy bug wilt associated virus (PMWaV) in pineapple using different fertilizer applications. Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

o   S. Sanjeewani – Control of anthracnose in banana cultivar kolikuttu (Musa sp.) with essential oils and bio-safe fruit coatings. Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

o   Chathuranga Liyanage – Basil oil incorporated beeswax coating to increase shelf life and reduce anthracnose development in mango cv. Willard. Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka

 

  1. Perera, L.K.R.R., Mansfield, T.A. and Malloch, A.J.C. (1994) Stomatal responses to sodium ions in Aster tripolium; a new hypothesis to explain salinity regulation in above-ground tissues. Plant, Cell and Environment 17, 335-340.
  2. Perera, L.K.R.R., Robinson, M.F. and Mansfield, T.A. (1995) Responses of stomata of Aster tripolium to calcium and sodium ions in relation to salinity tolerance. Journal of Experimental Botany 46, 623-629.
  3. Perera, L.K.R.R., De Silva, D.L.R. and Mansfield, T.A. (1997) Avoidance of sodium accumulation by the stomatal guard cells of the halophyte Aster tripolium. Journal of Experimental Botany 48, 707-711.
  4. Kodituwakku, T.D., Ekanayake, G.C.M., Abeywickrama, K.P. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R.  (2020). In vitro antifungal efficacy of selected essential oils in controlling fungi associated with the stem-end rot disease of mango (cv. Karutha Colomban) fruits and characterization of antifungal components. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 48(2), 101-111.
  5.     Ekanayake, H., Abeywickrama, K., Jayakody, R. and Herath, I. (2015) Quality assessment of minimally processed immature jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) as affected by pretreatments. Journal of food Science and Technology 52(11), 7263-7271.
  6.     Nisansala, Y.M.C., Jayakody, L.K.R.R., Sarananda, H.A. and Somaratne, S. (2015) Effect of pre-harvest potassium treatment on stem-end rot disease development of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. TomEJC during fruit ripening. Sabaragamuwa University Journal 14 (2), 119-132.
  1.     Nisansala, Y.M.C., Jayakody, L.K.R.R., Sarananda, H.A. and Somaratne, S. (2016) Effect of pre-harvest potassium chloride treatment on anthracnose disease development in harvested TomEJC mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruits. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension 19(2): 228-236.
  1.     Karunanayake, K.O.L.C., Liyanage, K.C.M., Jayakody, L.K.R.R. and Somatatne, S. (2020) Basil oil incorporated beeswax coating to increase shelf life and reduce anthracnose development in mango cv. Willard. Ceylon journal of Science 49 (special issue), 355-361.
  1.     Amarasinghe, K.I.C., De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2020) Adverse effects of climate change- induced temperature and water stress on growth and yield of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) variety Suwandel. Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture 6(2), 15-24.
  1. Amarasinghe, K.I.C, De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2020). Will pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) be a successful crop with global warming-induced temperature and water stress in Sri Lanka? Journal of Engineering and Technology of the Open University of Sri Lanka (JET-OUSL) 8(1), 41-60.
  1. Rasanjalia, K.G.A.I, De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2020). Influence of super absorbent polymer (ZEBA) on growth, yield of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and soil water retention under temperature and water stress condition. Journal of Agriculture and Value Addition 3(1), 73–90.
  1. Mananadeva, M.D.A.P., Jayakody, L.K.R.R., Amarasinghe, K.I.C, and Ranasinghe, C. (2020). Can the mealybug wilt disease on pineapple be controlled using fertilizers? Journal of Technology and Value Addition 3(2), 47-62.
  1. Perera, L.K.R.R., Mansfield, T.A. and Malloch, A.J.C.Conference organized by the Society for Experimental Biology: 1994- University of Swansea, United Kingdom: Title of poster:  Stomatal responses to sodium ions in Aster tripolium; a new hypothesis to explain salinity regulation in above-ground tissues. Abstract   published in the Proceedings. Pg. 51

 2. Samarakoon, A.B. and Perera, L.K.R.R. (1985) Salinity and plant growth –studies on some sea shore plants. Oral presentation at the 41st Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) and abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg. 68-69

3. Bandarage, G. Iqbal, S.S., Jayakody, L.K.R.R., Liyanage, L.S.G., Ramasinghe, W. and Ranawaka, G.R. (2007).  Credit conversion scheme for the B.Sc. Degree Programme offered through distance and face-to-face teaching methods in Sri Lanka. Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka. Oral presentation at the Annual Academic Sessions of The Open University of Sri Lanka and extended abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg. 4

 4.  Weerahewa, H.L.D., Jayakody, L.K.R.R., Perera, S.A.T.A. and Somaratne, S. (2013) Enhanced disease resistance and quality of hydroponically-grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) through silicon supplementation. Oral presentation at the 33rd Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology (IOB) and abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg. 40

 5. Kottegoda, V.K., Jayakody, R. and Senadeera P. (2014) Comparative study of the          mechanisms of salt tolerance in cultivated rice and their wild relatives. Oral presentation at the 70th Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) and abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg. 22

 6. Amarasinghe, K.I.C., De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2017). Preliminary study on impact of induced temperature and water stress on yield parameters of tissue cultured Ananas comosus (Pineapple) – Variety Kew. Oral presentation at the Open University Research Sessions (OURS 2017) and extended abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg. 429

 7. Amarasinghe, K.I.C., De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2018) Adverse effects of induced high temperature stress and water stress on tissue cultured banana plants (AAA cv. Cavendish). Oral presentation at the 38th Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology (IOB) and abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg. 57

 8. Amarasinghe, K.I.C., De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2018).Impact of temperature and water stress on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa variety ‘Suwandel’). Oral presentation at the Open University Research Sessions (iOURS 2018) and extended abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg. 97

 9. Liyanage, K.C.M, Karunanayake, K.O.L.C. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2019). Reducing postharvest disease development and increasing shelf-life of mango fruit cv. Willard with essential oil-incorporated bio-safe fruit coating. Oral presentation at the First National Symposium of Sri Lanka Association for Mycology and Plant Pathology (SLAMPP) and abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg. 18

 10. Rasanjali, K.G.A., De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2020). Influence of organic based super absorbent polymer (ZEBA) on growth of Cabbage and soil water content under temperature and water stress condition. Oral presentation at the Open University Research Sessions (OURS 2020) and abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg.

 11. Dilrukshi, S., Rasanjali, K.G.A., De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2020). Effect of a water saving super absorbent polymer on irrigation intervals of temperature and water-stressed chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) plants. Oral presentation at the Open University Research Sessions (OURS 2020) and abstract published in the Proceedings. Pg.

12. Rasanjali, K.G.A.I., De Silva, C.S. and Jayakody, L.K.R.R. (2021). Effect of super absorbent polymers and different irrigation intervals on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) under temperature stress condition. Oral presentation at the Open University Research Sessions (OURS 2021) and abstract published in the Proceedings Pg.

 NRC Merit Award for Scientific Publication (2015)- awarded by the National Research Council  of Sri Lanka 

OUSL Research Award– 2020 –  The Open University of Sri Lanka

Commonwealth Scholarship – United Kingdom (1991 – 1994) – awarded by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, U.K. to read for a PhD at Lancaster University, U.K.

Commonwealth Academic Fellowship-United Kingdom (2003)- awarded by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, U.K. to carry out post-doctoral research at Lancaster University, U.K.

Life membership and fellow of the Institute of Biology (IOB), Sri Lanka

Life membership of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), Sri Lanka