| Home | Undergraduate Courses | Postgraduate Courses | Projects | Research | Prizes and Scholarships |

Research
 

 

The Department has traditionally been strong and well known for research, particularly in Plant Systematics, Ecology, Forestry, Postharvest technology and Pathology, Nitrogen fixation and Rhizobiology. This has now been extended to areas such as Restoration Ecology, Soil Sciences. Microbiology, Cut flower and Foliage handling, etc

Publication

Download Lab & Field Safety Guidelines

     
  PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND PHYLOGENETICS  
 
  • Plany Systematics and phylogenetics, multidisciplinary approach specializing in the use of morphological, photochemical and molecular features to assess taxonomic relationships and biogeographical patterns.
    The Systematics group is currently engaged in species limit problems of several endemic taxa including Stemonoporus Thw. (Dipterocarpaceae), Hortonia Wight ex Arn. (Monimaceae), Gordonia Ellis (Theaceae), Cinnamomum Scheaffer (Lauraceae), and Nymphaea L. (Nymphaeaceae).
 
     
  ECOLOGY  
 
  • The evolution, ecology and population genetics of plant sexual systems: undertakes internationally recognized research aimed at understanding the relations between organisms (plant, animal or microbe) at individual, population and community levels, as well as between organisms and their environments.
    Assessments of invasive pine in relation to anthropogenic fire in the Knuckles forest reserve, Sri Lanka
  • Understanding the long-term dynamics of growth, mortality, and reproductive phenology of plant species in Sinharaja lowland rainforest.
  • Restoration ecology of degraded ecosystems in lowland and lower-montane regions of Sri Lanka.
  • Ecological studies of the wet zone natural forests and isolated hills of the intermediate zone of Sri Lanka.
  • Biogeographic affinities of the flora of isolated hills in the intermediate zone of Sri Lanka
  
     
 

FORESTRY

  
 
  • Impacts of fire on Biodiversity of Udawalawe National Park
  • Forest Die-back in Bundala National Park
  • Ecophysiological status of seeds of Sri Lankan dry Forest plant species
 
     
  POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY  
 
  • Managements of postharvest diseases of banana and mango using their natural resistance mechanisms
  • Biochemical and Molecular aspects of resistance in local banana cultivars against fugal pathogens.
  • Postharvest technology and physiology of cut flowers and cut foliages with the objective of extending the longevity of produce prepared for the export market.
  
     
 

RHIZOBIOLOGY AND NITROGEN FIXATION

  
 
  • Production of Rhizobium inoculum for grain legmes in Sri Lanka
  • Research for further development of inoculants
  • Characterization of Rhizobia available from different wild and cultivated plants of grain legumes and other nodulating species inhabited in varied climatic zones of Sri Lanka.
  
     
 

MICROBIOLOGY

  
 
  • Sensitivity of different Bacteriological analytical methods for detecting coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli for water quality assessment in Sri Lanka.
  • Assessment of the quality of bottled water in Sri Lanka
 
     
 

PLANT PATHOLOGY

  
 
  • Diseases of ornamental plants and their control.
  • Forest die-back in the Horton Plains national park.
  
     
 

FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY

  
 
  • Determination of bioavailability of Zn and Fe in pulses consumed locally, and determine methods to increase bioavailability
 
     
 

SOIL SCIENCES

  
 
  • Soil nutrient status in natural ecosystems.
  • Mycorrhizae.
  
| Science Home |University HOME |