Asiri Anushka is pursuing her PhD at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), Curtin University. She is specialising in molecular plant pathology, genetics and plant breeding along with bioinformatics. Her research focuses on identification, characterisation and validation of novel Septoria nodorum blotch susceptible genes in wheat.
Prior to her PhD, she worked as a research officer in Genetics and Plant Breeding attached to the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka. She received her bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, then completed her master’s in water resources management from the Peradeniya University, Sri Lanka.
PhD Project Title: Towards Septoria Nodorum Blotch (SNB) disease resistance: Cloning of novel SNB susceptible genes in wheat.
Summary: This PhD research focuses on uncovering novel susceptibility genes in wheat that interact with necrotrophic effectors from the fungal pathogen Parastagonospora nodorum, the causal agent of Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB). Using an integrated approach involving RNA sequencing, fine mapping, and EMS mutagenesis, the study aims to identify and validate candidate genes responsible for SNB susceptibility. Molecular markers developed from these genes will facilitate marker-assisted selection, contributing to the development of SNB-resistant wheat cultivars and supporting disease resistance breeding efforts in Australia.
Supervisors: Prof. Mark Gibberd and Dr. Huyen Phan