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Academic Staff member

Prof. (Mrs) Pushpa. D. Abeysinghe

Senior Professor

B.Sc. (Special) degree in Botany, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
M. Sc., Ph. D. Vrije Universitiet, Brussels, Belgium
Specialization - Molecular Biology, Plant Systematics

Email - pushpa@bot.ruh.ac.lk

LinnkedIn ResearchGate Google Scholar

  • General Degree
  • Level I
  • BOT1221: Plant Systematics
  • BOT1241: Botany Practicals
  • Level II
  • BOT2131: Molecular Biology
  • BOT2141: Botany Practicals III
  • Level III
  • BOT3182: Advanced Molecular Biology
  • BOT3222: Plant Tissue Culture
  • Special Degree
  • BOT4062: Advanced Molecular Biology
  • BOT4102: Plant Cell and Tissue Culture
  • BOT4182: Herbarium Methodologies
  • BOT4192: Advanced Plant Systematics
  • BOT4252: Practical skills in Botany
  • Research interests-
  • Genetic diversity and phylogentic analysis of economically and medicinally important plant species (Cinnamomum spp., Salacia, mangrove) found in Sri Lanka.
  • Extraction and isolation of pharmacologically active natural products from plants.
  • Tissue culture research for commercial and ornamental purposes
  • ARTICLES IN INTERNATIONAL PEER REVIEW JOURNALS
  • Gaballa A, Abeysinghe PD Urich G., Matthijs S., De Greve H., Cornelis P and Koedam N. 1997. Trehalose induces antagonism towards Pythium debaryanum in Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 17400. Appl. and Environ. Microbiol. 63(11): 4340-4345.
  • Pushpa Damayanthi Abeysinghe, Ludwig Triest, Bart De Greef, Nico Koedam and Sanath Hettiarachi. 1999. Genetic differentiation betweenBruguiera gymnorhiza and B. sexangula in Sri Lanka. Hydrobiologia. 413: 11-16.
  • Pushpa Damayanthi Abeysinghe, Ludwig Triest, Bart De Greef, Nico Koedam and Sanath Hettiarachi. 2000. Genetic and geographic variation of the mangrove tree Bruguiera in Sri Lanka. Aquatic Botany. 67: 131-141.
  • Dahdouh-Guebas, F., R. De Bondt, P.D. Abeysinghe, J.G. Kairo, S. Cannicci, L. Triest and N. Koedam, 2004. Comparative study of the disjunct zonation pattern of the grey mangrove Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. in Gazi Bay (Kenya). Bulletin of Marine Science 74(2): 237-252.
  • Pushpa Damayanthi Abeysinghe Kitulgala Gamaethige Gamini Wijesinghe, Hidenori Tachida and Takanori Yoshda. 2009. Molecular characterization of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum Presl) accessions and evaluation of genetic relatedness of Cinnamon species in Sri Lanka based on trnL intron region, intergenic spacers between trnT-trnL, trnL-trnF trnH -psbA and nuclear ITS. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. 5(6): 1079-1088.
  • P. D. Abeysinghe. 2010. Antibacterial Activity of some Medicinal Mangroves against Antibiotic Resistant Pathogenic Bacteria. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 72(2):149-282.
  • Abeysinghe P.D. Samarajeewa N. G. C. D Li G. Wijesinghe K.G.G. 2014. Preliminary investigation of identification of Sri Lankan Cinnamomum species using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and sequence related amplified polymorphic (SRAP) markers. NSF Journal of National Science Foundation Sri Lanka. 42(3): 175-182.
  • Saman Abeysinghe, Pushpa Damayanthi Abeysinghe, Chamini Kanatiwela-de Silva and Preethi Udagama, Kanjana Warawichanee, Naofel Aljafar, Praphat Kawicha and Matt Dickinson. 2016. Refinement of the Taxonomic Structure of 16SrXI and 16SrXIV Phytoplasmas of Gramineous Plants using Multilocus Sequence Typing. Plant Disease 100(10) 2001-2010.
  • Pushpa Damayanthi Abeysinghe and Tanya Scharaschkin. 2019. Taxonomic value of the petiole anatomy in the genus Cinnamomum (Lauraceae) found in Sri Lanka. Ruhuna Journal of Science. 10(1):1-17.
  • ARTICLES IN NATIONAL PEER REVIEW JOURNALS
  • P.D. Abeysinghe, M. Vithanawasam, R.N. Pathirana and S. Abeysinghe. 2002. Preliminary in vitro screening of some mangrove plant extracts for antibacterial compounds against clinical bacterial isolates from different sources. Ist Science Symposium. Proceedings pp 22-25.
  • P.D. Abeysinghe, D. Wijesekara, R.N. Pathirana. 2004. Inhibition of growth of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus sp. and Proteus sp. by mangrove plant extracts. 2nd Science Symposium. Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna. pp 10-13.
  • Withanawasam DM, Abeysinghe PD. 2008. Preliminary in vitro screening of antibacterial and antifungal compounds of mangrove plant extracts. Annals of Sri Lanka Dept. of agriculture. 10: 303-307.
  • Abeysinghe P.D. Wanigatunge R.P. and Pathirana R.N. 2006. Evaluation of antibacterial activity of different mangrove plant extracts. Ruhuna Journal of Science. I: 1-8.
  • PD Abeysinghe. 2018. Review article on Calotropis (Wara): Is it a miracle shrub or just a plant? Journal of the University of Ruhuna. 6(2):55-60.
  • D.A. Shirani, K.A.C. Niroshani, A.W. Gaminie and P.D. Abeysinghe. 2016. Determination of optimum dosage of the mutagen ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) for mass treatment of shoot tips of banana variety ‘Agra’. Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2(2): 1-9.
  • PRESENTATIONS AT NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES / SYMPOSIA
  • Abeysinghe PD. 1996. ‘Use genetic markers in Plant population biology”. 18th October. Université de Louvain, Belgium.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., De Greef B, Triest L, Koedam N. 1997. “Genetic assessment in Rhizophora and Bruguiera populations”. International symposium on Mangrove ecosystems: Biodiversity, Functioning and management. Toulouse, France. Symposium on Mangrove Ecosystems: Biodiversity, Functioning, Restoration and Management.
  • Abeysinghe PD, Triest L and Koedam N. 1999. “RAPD analysis reveals slight genetic differentiation among ecotypes of Avicennia marina from Kenya”. Forest Biotechnology ’99". University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. Forest Biotechnology ’99.
  • PD Abeysinghe, M Withanawasam, RN Pathirana, and S. Abeysinghe. 2002. Preliminary in vitro screening of some mangrove plant extracts for antibacterial compounds against clinical bacterial isolates from different sources. First Science Symposium, University of Ruhuna, December. pp 22-25.
  • P.D. Abeysinghe, R. Nilanthi, S. Hettiarachi L. P. Jayathissa and F. Dahdouh-Guebas. 2002. “Morphological and molecular characterization of a distinct Rhizophora individual from Chilaw lagoon in Sri Lanka”. Sri Lanka Association for the advancement of Science. Proceeding of the 58th Annual session (SLASS) pp 184.
  • PD Abeysinghe, M Vithanawasam, RN Pathirana and S Abeysinghe. 2002. Preliminary in vitro screeining of some mangrove plant extracts for antibacterial compounds against clinical bacterial isolates from different sources. 1st Science Symposium. 11 Dec. 2002.
  • Abeysinghe PD, Wijesekara D, Pathirana RN. 2004. Inhibition of growth of antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus sp. and Proteus sp. by mangrove plant extracts. 2nd Science Symposium. Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna. pp10-13.
  • Abeysinghe P.D. Wijesinghe, K.G.G. 2009. “cpDNA sequence variation of Cinnamomum species found in Sri Lanka”. SLASS.
  • K.C.Samanthika, P.D.Abeysinghe & K.G.G.Wijesinghe. Analysis of genetic relatedness of Cinnamomum species by Randomly Amplified Ploymorphic DNA (RAPD). 7th Science Symposium. 11 Dec. 2009.
  • Abeysinghe P.D. Wijesinghe, K.G.G. 2009. “SRAP markers for identification of Cinnamomum species” Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science (SLASS).
  • DMDMU Dissanayaka, Y Ketipearachchi, WAVR Wanniarachchi. PD Abeysinghe. 2009. “Improvement of protocol for in vitro micro-grafting sweet orange species (Citrus sinensis) for Sri Lanka”. Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science (SLASS).
  • K.C. Samanthika, P.D. Abeysinghe, K.G.G. Wijesinghe. 2010. “Analysis of genetic relatedness of Cinnamomum species by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)”. 8th Science Symposium. Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna.
  • P.D. Abeysinghe, K.G.G. Wijesinghe. 2011. “Screening of Genetic Diversity of Cinnamomum spp. Found in Sri Lanka Using PCR Based Techniques”. 9th Science Symposium. Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna.
  • P.D. Abeysinghe, K.G.G. Wijesinghe. 2012. Evaluation of Relatedness of True Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) Accessions in Sri Lanka Based on Growth and Chemical Characters and cpDNA. Indo-Sri Lanka International Conference on “Agro Biotechnology for Sustainable Development” (ABSD-2012). Colombo. March 12-13.
  • Sewwandi Samanmalee EW Abeysinghe PD and Pathirana RN. 2012. The efficacy of tea extracts in inhibition of two strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and a preliminary phytochemical analysis. 9th Science Symposium. Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna.
  • T.M. Erandika, P.D. Abeysinghe, P. Ranasinghe, 2014. Comparative analysis of antioxidant activity of black and green tea infusions in Sri Lanka, Conference of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.
  • S.K. Jayasinghe, J.A.U.I. Jayasinghe, A.A.F. Nusra, H.B.P. Sandani, P.D. Abeysinghe, and R.N. Pathirana. 2014. Phytochemical screening and bacteriological assay of tea samples from upcountry and low country Sri Lanka. 1st Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference (RISTCON).
  • T.M. Erandika, P.D. Abeysinghe, R.N. Pathirana and S. Abeysinghe. 2015. Determination of antibacterial activity of Sri Lankan tea brews by broth microdilution assay. 4th YSF Symposium. National Science and Technology Commission, Dudly Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka.
  • T.M. Erandika, P.D. Abeysinghe, P. Ranasinghe, Alex White, L.A.L.W. Jayasekara, R.N. Pathirana, S. Abeysinghe. 2015. Antioxidant Activity of Sri Lankan Black Tea Measured by ABTS, FRAP and ORAC assay. 2nd Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. January 22-23. pp23.
  • T.M. Erandika, P.D. Abeysinghe, P. Ranasinghe, Alex White, L.A.L.W. Jayasekara, R.N. Pathirana and S. Abeysinghe, 2015. Comparison of the antioxidant activities of soxhlet extracts of Sri Lankan black, green and “factory discarded” tea, Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, IPURSE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
  • P D Abeysinghe, William McCully, L Baillie and A White. 2015. Antibacterial activity of Sri Lankan tea samples against MRSA, E. coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. World Congress on Pharmacology. July 20-22, 2015 Brisbane, Australia.
  • T.M. Erandika, P.D. Abeysinghe, R.N. Pathirana and S. Abeysinghe. 2016. Evaluation of antibacterial activity of sequential soxhlet extracts of three types of Sri Lankan tea using the broth microdilution assay. 3rd Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference.
  • A.D.S. Darshani, P.D. Abeysinghe and P. Marasinghe. 2016. Morphological, Anatomical and Biochemical Characterization of Salacia reticulata and Salacia oblonga. 3rd Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference.
  • Pushpa Abeysinghe, Tanya Scharaschkin, Rachel Hancock, Sanjleena Singh. Taxonomic implications from leaf stomatal anatomy of Calotropis gigantea R. Br. (Apocynaceae) found in Matara, Sri Lanka. 2017. 4th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. Pp 8.
  • Pushpa Abeysinghe, Tanya Scharaschkin. Petiolar Anatomy as a Diagnostic Character for Taxonomic Identi¬fication of Cinnamomum Species Found in Sri Lanka. 2017. 14th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna. Matara, Sri Lanka. 1st March. pp 27.
  • Ranawaka M.S.N. and Abeysinghe P.D. 2018. Preliminary stem anatomy of the genus Cinnamomum found in Sri Lanka. 5th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. February 15, pp 76.
  • Gamage N.S., Abeysinghe P.D. and Withanage S.P. 2019.
  • Identification of high yielding genotypes of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) at the early stage of their breeding cycle using rubber elongation factor (Ref) gene and promoter. 6th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. pp 1.
  • Sakunthala W.G.P. and Abeysinghe P.D. 2019. Comparison of anatomical characters of flower colour morphs of Calotropis gigantea (L) found in Sri Lanka. 6th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. pp 39.
  • Shirani D.A., Niroshani K.A.C., Abeysinghe P.D. and Abeysinghe S. 2019. In-vitro screening of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) treated shoot tips of banana for fusarium wilt using fungal co-cultivation. 6th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. pp 47.
  • Shirani D.A., Wijithasiri P.M.D.I., Amarasekara D.A.B.N. and Abeysinghe P.D. 2020. Effect of BAP and coconut water on growth and multiplication of immature male flowers of kolikuttu banana (AAB) variety ‘Agra’. 7th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. pp 84.
  • D.A. Shirani, R.G.A.S. Rajapakse, D.M.K.K. Disanayake and P.D. Abeysinghe. 2020. Molecular Confirmation of Foc race 1 is Crucial for Screening of Silk Banana for Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense). International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment. ISAE 2020. pp 21.
  • D.A. Shirani, W.L.G. Samarasinghe, S.K. Wasala, N.M. Ubeysekara, S. Abeysinghe, P.D. Abeysinghe. 2020. DNA fingerprinting of putative mutants of Kolikuttu banana variety – Agra. 2020. Annals of Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture (ASDA) 22:7
  • Shirani D. A., Niroshani K. A. C., Abeysinghe S., Abeysinghe P. D. Assessment of different inoculation methods for early screening of irradiated Kolikuttu banana for Fusarium Wilt. Proceedings of 8th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. February 17, 2021
  • BOOK CHAPTERS
  • Contribution of a chapter to book titled “Cinnamon Botany, Agronomy, Chemistry and Industrial Applications by Springer Nature Switzerland AG. 2020.
  • Chapter 4; “Botany of endemic Cinnamomum species of Sri Lanka”.
  • Pushpa D. Abeysinghe, Pradeepa C.G. Bandaranayake and Ranjith Pathirana.
  • TEXT BOOKS
  • Basic Molecular biology (මූලික අණුක ජීව විද්‍යාව) Editor: Pushpa Abeysinghe. (ISBN 978-955-30-2417-6).
  • Gene Expression and regulation (ජාන ප්‍රකාශණය සහ යාමණය) Editor: Pushpa Abeysinghe. (ISBN 978-955-30-2415-2).
  • Genetic Engineering (ජාන ඉංජිනේරු විද්‍යාව) Editors: Saman Abeysinghe & Pushpa Abeysinghe. (ISBN 978-955-30-2416-9)
  • Brussels, Belgium in 1993 and 1995. Funded by the competitive grant by ABOS Algemeen Bestuur van de Ontwikkelingssamenwerking (In Dutch: General Administration for Development; Belgium).
  • President's Research Award in 2000 in appreciation of effort in authorship of article in citation index Hydrobiologia. 413: 11-16 and Aquatic Botany. 67: 131-141.
  • Research grant has been awarded from the Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna. F/RP/2001/05.
  • TWAS (Third World Academy of Science) Research Grant was awarded (5000 USD).
  • TWAS (Third World Academy of Science) Research Grant was awarded in 2005. (7000 USD) in 2005.
  • Research Fellow- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in 2005.
  • Study visit to International Centre for Chemical Sciences (HEJ Research Institute), Karachchi, Pakistan in 2006.
  • Overseas Special Training Programme (OSTP) which is a competitive research grant Funded by the National Science Foundation (OSTP) to carry out research on Molecular characterization of Cinnamomum verum Presl. Accessions, conducted at the Department of Biology Faculty of Sciences Kyushu University, Roppomatsu, Fukuoka 810-8560 Japan in 2007 July.
  • Visiting Researcher in Canada. University of Manitoba, Canada. Funded by the Association of Commonwealth Universities Titular Fellowships. 2009.
  • President's Research Award in 2010 in appreciation of effort in authorship of article in citation index Bulletin of Marine Science 74(2): 237-252.
  • Commonwealth Academic Fellowships. School of Pharmacy, University of Cardiff, United Kingdom Awards 2012.
  • Endeavour Research Fellowships 2015 at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia.
  • Participated as an invited resource person –
  • Workshop on Gene Technology and Applications for G.C.E.A/L teachers of the southern province. 27th November 2010. In collaboration with the Department of Science, Health & Physical Education, National Institute of Education.
  • Participated as a resource person in different workshops on Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering conducted for G.C.E. (A/L) Teachers and students in Schools in the Southern region (St Thomas Girl's High School, Dikwella Vijitha Central, Matara Central College etc.).
  • Participated as a resource person for the workshops on Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering for G.C.E. (A/L) Teachers in the Southern Province. Funded by Southern Development Authority. 16th. February 2001.
  • Participated as a resource person on Workshop on Genetic Engineering for G.C.E. (A/L) teachers. Weeraketiya Rajapaksha Central College. 14th February 2002.
  • Participated as a resource person for the Biology (A/L) seminars at St Thomas Girl's High School, Matara, (Vidu Sidatha). 3rd April 2002.
  • Participated as a resource person for the Biology (A/L) seminars at St Thomas Girl'sHigh School, Matara, (Vidu Sidatha). 31st March 2003.
  • Participated as a resource person for the workshop on Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering for G.C.E. (A/L) students at Dikwella Vijitha Central College. 17th March 2004.
  • Participated as a resource person on Awareness Workshops on GMO/GMF and Bio-safety for G.C.E. (A/L) Teachers and students. Organized by the SEC/SLAAS in collaboration with the National Bio-safety Frame-work Development Project of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and Ministry of Education. 29th March. 2004.
  • Visiting Academic of Open university of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka from 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011.
  • Visiting Lecturer in Molecular Biology in the Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna 2001/2002.
  • Visiting Lecturer in Molecular Biology - M. Sc. in Crop Protection, University of Ruhuna from 2004 - 2005.
  • Visiting Lecturer in Molecular Biology - M. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Ruhuna.from 2004 -2011.
  • Served as a member of thesis evaluation in 500 series University of Ruhuna, Faculty of Agriculture.
  • Student counselor of the Faculty of Science. University of Ruhuna from 2000-2005.
  • A member- Executive committee members of RUSTA (Ruhuna University Science Teachers' Association).
  • A member of Board of Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna.
  • A member of Research Committee, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna.
  • Executive Committee member/Ruhuna University Science Teachers Association.
  • chairperson/Member of Technical Evaluation Committee.
  • M. Phil. and Ph. D.Thesis evaluation since 2003, Faculty of Graduate studies, University of Sri Jayawardanapura, University of Peradeniya, University of Jaffna.
  • Coordinator of M. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology conducted by the Faculty of Science. University of Ruhuna (2006 - 2011)
  • Chairperson- Faculty Day - 2013.
  • Chairperson - RISTCON - 2015.
  • Selection Committee member/Senate nominee of Post of Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor/Professor, University of Ruhuna, University of Peradeniya, University of Jaffna.