Prabha Amarasinghe
Selected Presentations (T: Talks, P: Poster)
Amarasinghe, P., S. Joshi, N. Page, L. Wijedasa, R. D. Stone, H. Kathriarachchi, M. Merello, W. Judd, U. Kodandaramaiah, & N. Cellinese. A global perspective on Memecylon (Melastomataceae): Insights into biogeography and character evolution. Botany virtual. July 2020. T
Amarasinghe, P., S. Joshi, N. Page, L. Wijedasa, R. D. Stone, H. Kathriarachchi, M. Merello, B. Loiselle, U. Kodandaramaiah, & N. Cellinese. New insights into historical biogeography and niche evolution of Memecylon (Melastomataceae). Humboldt symposium, February 2020, FL.T
Amarasinghe, P., S. Joshi, N. Page, L. Wijedasa, R. D. Stone, H. Kathriarachchi, M. Merello, U. Kodandaramaiah, & N. Cellinese. New insights into the origin, biogeography and character evolution of Memecylon (Melastomataceae) based on a hybrid phylogenetic–phylogenomic approach. Society of Systematic Biologists Standalone, January 2020, FL.T
Amarasinghe, P., P. Pham, R. D. Stone, & N. Cellinese. An integrated approach to understand cryptic diversity in a South African Memecylon clade (Melastomataceae). Department of Biology Retreat, December 2019, FL.T
Amarasinghe, P., S. Joshi, N. Page, L. Wijedasa, R. D. Stone, H. Kathriarachchi, M. Merello, U. Kodandaramaiah, & N. Cellinese. Investigating the phylogenetics, divergence times and historical biogeography of Memecylon (Melastomataceae) with a target enrichment approach. Botany, July 2019, AZ.T
Amarasinghe, P., J. Jantzen, R. Folk, D. Soltis, P. Soltis, & N. Cellinese. Developing a new bioinformatics pipeline to capture low-copy nuclear loci for two distant clades of Melastomataceae. Botany, July 2019, AZ.P
Amarasinghe P., J. Jantzen, D. Soltis, P. Soltis, & N. Cellinese. Developing tools to capture loci of two distant clades of Melastomataceae. Botany, July 2018, MN.P
Amarasinghe P. & N. Cellinese. Niches, distribution and natural history: towards understanding the drivers of diversification of Memecylon (Melastomataceae). Botany, July 2017, TX.T
Amarasinghe P., D.A.S. Siriwardhane, R.R. Samarasekera & O.V.D.S.J. Weerasena. Chemical profiles and DNA barcodes for a Sri Lankan medicinal plant Plectranthus hadiensis, 2nd International Conference on Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Traditional Medicine, December 2014, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.T
Amarasinghe P., R.P. Karunagoda, & D.S.A. Wijesundara, 2010. Morphological characterization of Rhinacanthus species of Sri Lanka. Planta Medica, Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart, New York, 76 (5): 514. P
Selected presentations (by mentees):
Lewis, R. E., P. Amarasinghe, & A. Weerasooriya. Exploring the potential for hemp wax to improve the shelf life of postharvest products. Agricultural Research Director symposium 2022. Won presentation award.
Brown, A., P. Amarasinghe, A. Weerasooriya, & J. Barouei. Microbial community structure of retting Cannabis sativa inoculated by an undefined microbial culture. Agricultural Research Director symposium 2022. Won presentation award.
Ware, A., P. Amarasinghe, A. Geremew, L. Carson, & A. Weerasooriya. 2021. Morphological and phytochemical diversity of grain-type industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa). 17th annual Texas A&M University System Pathways Student Research Symposium 2022. Won presentation award.
Pierre, C., P. Amarasinghe, & A. Weerasooriya. 2021. Peeling back the layers: stem anatomy, fiber strength, & novel retting approaches towards a sustainable hemp fiber industry in Texas. Undergraduate research and innovation symposium PVMAU.
Pham, P., P. Amarasinghe, R.D. Stone, & N. Cellinese. 2019. A preliminary analysis to understand the ploidy variation in a South African Memecylon clade (Melastomataceae). Undergraduate research symposium. Department of Biology, UF.
Wijesooriya, W., A. Ambadeniya & P. Amarasinghe, 2015. Development of chemical profiles and preliminary phytochemical screening for shoots of Rhinacanthus (Acanthaceae) of Sri Lanka. Annual sessions-Sri Lanka Association of the Advancement of Science 71(4):108
Publications
Peer-reviewed publications
Amarasinghe, P., C. Pierre‡, M. Moussavi, A. Geremew, S. Woldesenbet, & A. Weerasooriya. 2022. The morphological and anatomical variability of the stems of an industrial hemp collection and the properties of its fibres. Heliyon. 8(4): e09276. ‡Undergraduate
Amarasinghe, P., S. Joshi, N. Page, L.S. Wijedasa, M. Merello, H. Kathriarachchi, R.D. Stone, W. Judd, U. Kodandaramaiah, & N. Cellinese. 2021. Evolution and biogeography of Memecylon. American Journal of Botany. 108 (4): 628–646.
Amarasinghe, P., P. Pham‡, R.D. Stone, & N. Cellinese. 2021. Discordance in a South African Memecylon clade (Melastomataceae): evidence for reticulate evolution. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 182 (8): 682–694. ‡Undergraduate
Amarasinghe, P., N. Barve, H. Kathriarachchi, B. Loiselle, & N. Cellinese. Niche dynamics of Memecylon in Sri Lanka: niche divergence, climate change effects, and conservation priorities. Ecology and Evolution. 11:18196–18215.
Jantzen, J.R.*, P. Amarasinghe*, R.A. Folk, M. Reginato, F.A. Michelangeli, D.E. Soltis, N. Cellinese, & P.S. Soltis. 2020. A two‐tier bioinformatic pipeline to develop probes for target capture of nuclear loci with applications in Melastomataceae. Applications in Plant Sciences. 8: 1–14. *Equal contributors
Amarasinghe P. & D.S.A. Wijesundara, 2011. A new species of Rhinacanthus (Acanthaceae) from Sri Lanka, Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 68 (3): 333-337.
Book
Amarasinghe P., S.P. Senanayake and A.P.G. Amarasinghe, 2016. A field guide to the economically important plants of Sri Lanka. Stamford Lake (Pvt.) Ltd., Sri Lanka. ISBN 978-955-658-254-3.