Manjula Kularathna
Graduate Student
E-mail: mkularathna@agcenter.lsu.edu  

Major Professor: Dr. Charles Overstreet
 

Education

• 2010 - Present: M.Sc Candidate, Dept. of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University- Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
   

• 2002-2006 – B.Sc. Parasitology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Research and Experience

• 2010 – Present: Graduate research assistant, Dept. of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology Louisiana State University
   

• 2006-2007 – Teaching Assistant, Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
   

• 2005- 2006 – Undergraduate research on The Nematicidal Activity of Heen – Araththa (Alpinia calcarata Rosc.) Rhizome and Aruda (Ruta graveolens Linn. ) Leaf extracts on Root – Knot Nematodes

Area of Research

Cotton is a major economic crop in the world with millions of dollars in revenue. Among the variety of diseases in cotton, nematodes play a major role in reducing the yield. Commercially available nematicides are highly toxic and expensive. Therefore, their use among growers is decreasing.  Site specific nematode management is a novel management practice which gains lot of attention.  In my research I am looking at the effect of soil fertility on reproduction and pathogenicity of Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) on cotton. This study will ultimately be helpful in developing management zones for site specific nematode management.