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Academic Staff member

Senior Prof. (Mrs.) Pushpa. D. Abeysinghe

Senior Professor

Specialization - Molecular Biology, Plant Systematics

PhD
Molecular Plant Systematics (01/10/1995to 02/12/1999).
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Dissertation title - Conservation genetics of mangroves: morphology and DNA polymorphism in a geographical context

MSc
Molecular Biology (20/08/1993 to 22/09/1995).
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Dissertation title - Molecular characterization of gene(s) involved in the interaction between the phytopathogens and the antagonistic bacteria

BSc. (Special) degree in Botany, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. Second class Honors (Upper Division) A study of abaxial and adaxial stomata in composite weeds.

Email - pushpa@bot.ruh.ac.lk

LinnkedIn ResearchGate Google Scholar

  • General Degree
  • Level I
  • BOT1221: Plant Systematics
  • BOT1131: Plant Anatomy
  • BOT1241: Botany Laboratory I
  • Level II
  • BOT2131: Molecular Biology
  • BOT2141: Botany Laboratory II
  • 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 phylogenetic analysis of economically and medicinally important plant species (Cinnamomum spp., Salacia, mangrove, rubber) found in Sri Lanka.
  • Extraction and isolation of pharmacologically active natural products from plants for different bioactivities.
  • Tissue culture research for commercial and ornamental purposes
  • Book Chapters
  • Contribution of a chapter to book titled Cutting Edge Research in Biology Vol. 9.
  • Abeysinghe P.D. LM, Micromorphology, SEM of Leaf and Molecular Characterization of the Genus Cinnamomum (Family Lauraceae) Found in Sri Lanka: Taxonomic Significance. 2023. BP International. Print ISBN: 978-81-19315-67-3, eBook ISBN: 978-81-19315-64-2.
  • 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”.
  • Abeysinghe P.D, Pradeepa C.G. Bandaranayake and Ranjith Pathirana.
  • Textbooks
  • Basic Molecular Biology, Editor: Abeysinghe P.D. (ISBN 978-955-30-2417-6).
  • Gene Expression and Regulation Editor: Abeysinghe P.D. (ISBN 978-955-30-2415-2).
  • Genetic Engineering. Editors: Abeysinghe S & Abeysinghe P.D. (ISBN 978-955-30-2416-9).
  • Peer reviewed- Journal articles
  • Abeysinghe P.D. (2022). Comparative anatomy of two forms of Sri Lankan Calotropis gigantea R. Br. (Family Apocynaceae s.l. (Subfamily Asclepiadoideae) -Taxonomic implications. Ceylon Journal of Science. 51(3) 2022: 307-318.
  • Thennakoon T.M.E.S., Abeysinghe P.D., Ranasinghe P., Pathirana R.N., White A., Fernando W.G.D., Abeysinghe S., Premakumara S. (2022). Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and in vitro antioxidant activities measured by the FRAP, ABTS, DPPH and ORAC assays of Sri Lankan black and green tea (Camellia sinensis) infusions. Food Biology. 11: 1-10.
  • Thennakoon T.M.E.S., Abeysinghe P.D., Pathirana R.N., Fernando W. G.D., Abeysinghe, S. (2022). Comparative Analysis of the Antibacterial Activity of Sri Lankan Black Tea from Different Geographical Areas. EC Pharmacology and Toxicology 10.3 (2022): 33-42.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Scharaschkin T. (2022) Comparative anatomy of two forms of Sri Lankan Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. (Family Apocynaceae s.l. – Subfamily Asclepiadoideae) -Taxonomic implications. Ceylon Journal of Science. 51(3): 307-318.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Scharaschkin T. (2019). Taxonomic value of the petiole anatomy in the genus Cinnamomum (Lauraceae) found in Sri Lanka. Ruhuna Journal of Science. 10(1):1-17.
  • Abeysinghe P.D. (2018). Calotropis (Wara): Is it a miracle shrub or just a plant? Journal of the University of Ruhuna. 6(2):55-60.
  • Abeysinghe S., Abeysinghe P.D., Kanatiwela De Silva., Udagama P., Warawichanee K., Aljafar N., Kawicha P., Dickinson M. (2016) Refinement of the Taxonomic Structure of 16SrXl and 16SrXIV Phytoplasmas of Gramineous Plants using Multilocus Sequence Typing. Plant Disease. 100:2001-2010.
  • Shirani D.A., Niroshani K.A.C., Gaminie A.W., Abeysinghe P.D. (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.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Samarajeewa N.G.C.D., Li G., Wijesinghe K.G.G. (2014). Preliminary investigation for the identification of Sri Lankan Cinnamomum Species using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and sequence related amplified polymorphic (SRAP) markers. Journal of National Science Foundation Sri Lanka. 42 (3): 175-182.
  • Abeysinghe P.D. (2012). Antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of mangrove species collected from Southern Sri Lanka. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research. 2(1):79-83.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., De Silva W.C. (2011). Screening of Petroleum ether, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate, Ethanol and Water Extracts of Medicinal Plant, Avicennia marina for Antibacterial Activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria Species, Staphylococcus and Proteus. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences. 11(18); 1-4.
  • Abeysinghe P.D. (2010). Antibacterial Activity of some medicinal mangroves against Antibiotic Resistant Pathogenic Bacteria. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 72(2):149-282.
  • Withanawasam D.M., Abeysinghe P.D. (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, Wijesinghe K.G.G., Tachida H., Yoshida T. (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.
  • Withanawasam D.M., Abeysinghe P.D. (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., Pathirana R.N. (2006). Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of different mangrove plant extracts. Ruhuna Journal of Science. I: 1-8.
  • Dahdouh-Guebas F., De Bondt R., Abeysinghe P.D., Kairo J.G., Cannicci S., Triest L., Koedam N. (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.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Triest L., De Greef B., Koedam N., Hettiarachi S. (2000). Genetic and geographic variation of the mangrove tree Bruguiera in Sri Lanka. Aquatic Botany. 67: 131-141.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Triest L., De Greef B., Koedam N., Hettiarachi S. (1999). Genetic differentiation between Bruguiera gymnorhiza and B. sexangula in Sri Lanka. Hydrobiologia. 413: 11-16.
  • Gaballa A., Abeysinghe P.D., Urich G., Matthijs S., De Greve H., Cornelis P., Koedam N. (1997). Trehalose Induces Antagonism towards Pythium debaryanum in Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 17400. Applied and environmental microbiology. 63(11): 4340–4345.
  • Withanawasam DM, Abeysinghe P.D. 2008. Preliminary in vitro screening of antibacterial and antifungal compounds of mangrove plant extracts. Annals of Sri Lanka Dept. of agriculture. 10: 303-307.
  • Abstracts presented in national and international conferences/symposia
  • Shirani D.A., Niroshani K.A.C., Abeysinghe P.D., and Abeysinghe S. 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. 2019 January 30th. pp 47.
  • Sakunthala W.G.P., Abeysinghe P.D. Comparison of anatomical characters of flower colour morphs of Calotropis gigantea (L) found in Sri Lanka. 6th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. 2019 January 30th. pp 39.
  • Gamage N.S., Abeysinghe P.D., Withanage S.P. 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. 2019 January 30th. pp 1.
  • Shirani D.A., Niroshani K.A.C., Abeysinghe P.D., Abeysinghe S. 2018. In-vitro screening of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) treated shoot tips of banana for Fusarium wilt using crude culture filtrates of different Fusarium oxysporum isolates. 5th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. 2018 February 15th. pp 1.
  • Ranawaka M.S.N., Abeysinghe P.D. 2018. Preliminary stem anatomy of the genus Cinnamomum found in Sri Lanka. 5th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. 2018 February 15th. pp 76.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Scharaschkin T., Hancock R., Singh S. 2017. Taxonomic implications from leaf stomatal anatomy of Calotropis gigantea R. Br. (Apocynaceae) found in Matara, Sri Lanka. 4th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. 2016 January 26th. pp 8.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Scharaschkin T. Petiolar Anatomy as a Diagnostic Character for Taxonomic Identification of Cinnamomum Species Found in Sri Lanka. 14th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna. Matara, Sri Lanka. 2017 March 1st. pp 27.
  • Darshani A.D.S., P Abeysinghe P.D., Marasinghe P. 2016. Morphological, Anatomical and Biochemical Characterization of Salacia reticulata and Salacia oblong 3rd Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference. Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. 2016 January 28th. pp 9.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., McCully W., Baillie L., White A. Antibacterial activity of Sri Lankan tea samples against MRSA, E. coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. World Congress on Pharmacology. Brisbane, Australia. 2015. July 20-22th. pp 7.
  • Thennakoon T.M.E.S., Abeysinghe P.D., Ranasinghe P., White A., Jayasekara L.A.L.W., Pathirana R.N., Abeysinghe S. Comparision of the antioxidant activities of Soxhlet extracts of Sri Lankan black, green and ‘factory discarded tea’. Peradeniya University International Research Session. University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. 2015 January 23rd. pp 27.
  • Thennakoon T.M.E.S, Abeysinghe P.D., Pathirana R.N., Abeysinghe S. Determination of antibacterial activity of Sri Lankan tea brews by broth microdilution assay. 4th YSF Symposium. National Science and Technology Commission, Dudley Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka. 2015 January 23rd. pp 61-64
  • T.M. Erandika, Abeysinghe P.D, Ranasinghe P., White A., L.A.L.W. Jayasekara, Pathirana R.N., Abeysinghe S. Antioxidant activity of Sri Lankan black tea measured by ABTS, FRAP and ORAC assays, 2nd Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. 2015 January 22-23rd. pp23.
  • Jayasinghe S.K., Jayasinghe J.A.U.I., Nusra A.A.F., Sandani H.B.P., Abeysinghe P.D., Pathirana R.N. Phytochemical screening and bacteriological assay of tea samples from upcountry and low country Sri Lanka. 1st Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference (RISTCON). 2014 January 22-23rd. pp 25.
  • Thennakoon T.M.E.S., Abeysinghe P.D., Ranasinghe P. Comparative analysis of the antioxidant activity of black and green tea infusions in Sri Lanka, Conference of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. 2014 January 9-10th. pp 12.
  • Sewwandi S.E.W., Abeysinghe P.D., Pathirana RN. 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. 2012 January 10th.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Wijesinghe K.G.G. Evaluation of Relatedness of True Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) accessions in Sri Lanka Based on Growth and Chemical Characters and cpDNA sequences. Indo-Sri Lanka International Conference on “Agro Biotechnology for Sustainable Development” (ABSD-2012). 2012 March 12-13th.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Wijesinghe K.G.G. Screening of Genetic Diversity of Cinnamomum spp. Found in Sri Lanka Using PCR-Based Techniques. 9th Science Symposium. Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna. 2011 January 17th. pp 10.
  • Samanthika K.C., Abeysinghe P.D., Wijesinghe K.G.G. Analysis of genetic relatedness of Cinnamomum species by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). 7th Science Symposium. Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna. 2010 January 25th. pp 15.
  • Dissanayaka, D.M.D.M.U., Ketipearachchi Y., Wanniarachchi W.A.V.R., Abeysinghe P.D. 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).
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Wijesinghe K.G.G. SRAP markers for identification of Cinnamomum species. Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science (SLASS). 2009 January 22th. pp 20.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Wijesinghe K.G.G. cpDNA sequence variation of Cinnamomum species found in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science SLASS. 2009 January 22th. pp 24.
  • P.D. Abeysinghe, Wijesekara D. Pathirana RN. Inhibition of growth of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus and Proteus s. by mangrove plant extracts. Proceedings of the Second Science Symposium. Second Science Symposium, University of Ruhuna, 2004 August. 2:1-9.
  • Abeysinghe P.D, Nilanthi R., Hettiarachi S., Jayathissa LP., Dahdouh-Guebas F. 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 Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science (SLASS). 2002. pp 184.
  • Abeysinghe P.D, Withanawasam M., Pathirana, R.N., Abeysinghe S. 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. 2002 January 12th. pp 19.
  • Abeysinghe P.D., Triest L., Koedam N. RAPD analysis reveals slight genetic differentiation among ecotypes of Avicennia marina from Kenya. Forest Biotechnology ’99. University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. 1999 September 19th. pp 70
  • Abeysinghe P.D., De Greef B., Triest L., Koedam N. Genetic assessment in Rhizophora and Bruguiera populations. International symposium on Mangrove ecosystems: Biodiversity, Functioning and management. Toulouse, France. Symposium Mangrove Ecosystems: Biodiversity, Functioning, Restoration and Management. 1997 October 09th. pp 28.
  • Abeysinghe P.D,.1996. Use of molecular markers in plant population biology. – Symposium on Why use genetic markers in Plant population biology. Université de Louvain, Belgium. 1996 October 18th. pp 32.
  • Endeavour Research Fellow, 2015. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. This grant was awarded to research systematics studies using histology on medicinally important plants such as (Cinnamomum species in Family Lauraceae, Solanum species in Family Solanaceae, Calotropis gigantea species in Family Apocynaceae).
  • Commonwealth Academic Fellow, 2012. School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, United Kingdom Awards. Carried out research on the identification of antibacterial components using HPLC methods and their structures will be determined using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), electrospray (ES) and electron impact (EI) mass spectrometry (MS).
  • Presidential Awards for Scientific Research – 2010.
  • Titular Fellow (Association of Commonwealth Universities), 2009. University of Manitoba, Canada. -. Carried out research on genetic diversity studies of Cinnamomum using molecular markers.
  • Presidential Awards for Scientific Research – 2009.
  • Research Fellow, 2007. Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan Research grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Overseas Special Training Programme (OSTP) to research molecular characterisation of Cinnamomum species using DNA sequencing.
  • Study visits and training programme -International Centre for Chemical Sciences HEJ Research Institute), Karachi, Pakistan in 2006.
  • Research Fellow, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India in October 2005. Funded by the ICRISAT.
  • Presidential Awards for Scientific Research – 2002
  • ABOS Scholarships - for reading M. Sc. and Ph. D. Vrije University, Brussels, Belgium in 1993 – 1999.
  • Professor in Botany - Department of Botany, University of Ruhuna 28/01/2013 to 28.01. 2021.
  • Senior Lecturer Grade I - Department of Botany, University of Ruhuna (08/12/2005 to 27/01/2013).
  • Senior Lecturer Grade II - Department of Botany, University of Ruhuna 08/12/1999 to 07/12/2005.
  • Lecturer - Department of Botany, University of Ruhuna (12/03/1992 to 07/12/1999).