Dr Akila Wijerathna Yapa
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
Researcher biography
I am an interdisciplinary researcher and a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (HEA) Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF). With a strong background in Agricultural Biotechnology, Molecular Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, Omics (Proteomics, Metabolomics, Transcriptomics), and Statistical data analysis, I am dedicated to advancing knowledge and finding practical solutions in the field of crop production.
My current research focuses on studying axillary bud outgrowth and axillary meristem arrest, a variable trait that holds significant importance in crop production. By delving into the intricate mechanisms governing axillary branching, I aim to unravel the underlying molecular and physiological processes that contribute to the regulation of this trait. Understanding the factors influencing axillary branching has the potential to revolutionize crop yield and quality by optimizing plant architecture and resource allocation.
Publications
Journal Articles
Wijerathna‐Yapa, Akila, Henry, Robert J., Dunn, Matt and Beveridge, Christine A. (2023). Science and opinion in decision making: A case study of the food security collapse in Sri Lanka. Modern Agriculture, 1 (2), 142-151. doi: 10.1002/moda.18
Pri‐Tal, Oded, Sun, Yufei, Dadras, Armin, Fürst‐Jansen, Janine M. R., Zimran, Gil, Michaeli, Daphna, Wijerathna‐Yapa, Akila, Shpilman, Michal, Merilo, Ebe, Yarmolinsky, Dmitry, Efroni, Idan, de Vries, Jan, Kollist, Hannes and Mosquna, Assaf (2023). Constitutive activation of ABA receptors in Arabidopsis reveals unique regulatory circuitries. New Phytologist, 241 (2), 703-714. doi: 10.1111/nph.19363
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Bishnoi, Ruchi, Ranawaka, Buddhini, Maya Magar, Manu, Ur Rehman, Hafeez, Bharad, Swati G., Lorenc, Michal T., Ramtekey, Vinita, Gohar, Sasha, Lata, Charu, Harun-Or-Rashid, Md., Razzaq, Maryam, Sajjad, Muhammad and Basnet, Bhoja R. (2023). Rice–wheat comparative genomics: Gains and gaps. The Crop Journal. doi: 10.1016/j.cj.2023.10.008
Beveridge, Christine A, Rameau, Catherine and Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila (2023). Learnings from a century of apical dominance research. Journal of Experimental Botany, 74 (14), 3903-3922. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad137
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila and Hiti-Bandaralage, Jayeni (2023). Tissue culture — AsSustainable approach to explore plant stresses. Life, 13 (3) 780, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/life13030780
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila and Pathirana, Ranjith (2022). Sustainable agro-food systems for addressing climate change and food security. Agriculture, 12 (10) 1554, 1-26. doi: 10.3390/agriculture12101554
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Ramtekey, Vinita, Ranawaka, Buddhini and Basnet, Bhoja Raj (2022). Applications of in vitro tissue culture technologies in breeding and genetic improvement of wheat. Plants, 11 (17) 2273, 1-26. doi: 10.3390/plants11172273
Li, Lei, Lee, Chun Pong, Ding, Xinxin, Qin, Yu, Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Broda, Martyna, Otegui, Marisa S and Millar, A Harvey (2022). Defects in autophagy lead to selective in vivo changes in turnover of cytosolic and organelle proteins in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 34 (10), 3936-3960. doi: 10.1093/plcell/koac185
Li, Lei, Duncan, Owen, Ganguly, Diep R., Lee, Chun Pong, Crisp, Peter A., Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Salih, Karzan, Trösch, Josua, Pogson, Barry J. and Millar, A. Harvey (2022). Enzymes degraded under high light maintain proteostasis by transcriptional regulation in
Arabidopsis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (20) e2121362119, 1-11. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2121362119
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Signorelli, Santiago, Fenske, Ricarda, Ganguly, Diep R., Stroeher, Elke, Li, Lei, Pogson, Barry J., Duncan, Owen and Millar, A. Harvey (2021). Autophagy mutants show delayed chloroplast development during de-etiolation in carbon limiting conditions. Plant Journal, 108 (2), 459-477. doi: 10.1111/tpj.15452
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Stroeher, Elke, Fenske, Ricarda, Li, Lei, Duncan, Owen and Millar, A. Harvey (2020). Proteomics for autophagy receptor and cargo identification in plants. Journal of Proteome Research, 20 (1), 129-138. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00609
Sun, Yufei, Harpazi, Ben, Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Merilo, Ebe, de Vries, Jan, Michaeli, Daphna, Gal, Maayan, Cuming, Andrew C., Kollist, Hannes and Mosquna, Assaf (2019). A ligand-independent origin of abscisic acid perception. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116 (49), 24892-24899. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1914480116
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila (2017). Effect on biodrying and rapid drying of food wastesfor biochar manufacturing. Agricultural Research and Technology, 7 (5), 00128-00133. doi: 10.19080/ARTOAJ.2017.07.555722
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila (2017). Transgenic plants: Resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development, 111 (1), 245-275.
Wijerathna, Yapa Mudiyanselage A.M. and Kumarihami, Herath Mudiyanselage P.C. (2016). Effects of Different Hormonal Concentrations and Culture Medium on Multiplication and Rooting of Stage II Banana (Musa cavendishii). Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 8 (1). doi: 10.15835/nsb.8.1.9749
Wijerathna, Y.M.A.M. (2015). Marker assisted selection: biotechnology tool for rice molecular breeding. Advances in Crop Science and Technology, 3 (4) 1000187, 1-4. doi: 10.4172/2329-8863.1000187
Wijerathna, Y.M.A.M. (2015). Application of biotechnology in Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.): Sri Lanka. Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, 25 (1), 103-116. doi: 10.3329/ptcb.v25i1.24130
Wijerathna, Y. M.A.M., Perera, A. N. K., Hamama, I. B. and Hoang, L. (2015). Application of PCR and MAS: Potential use for assessment of genetic diversity of rice germplasm in breeding programmes in developing countries. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 38 (2), 161-174.
Wijerathna, Y. M. A. M., Kottearachchi, N. S., Gimhani, D. R. and Sirisena, D. N. (2014). Exploration of relationship between fragrant gene and growth performances of fragrant rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings under salinity stress. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 2 (1), 7-12.
Wijerathna, Y.M.A.M., Kottearachchi, N.S., Gimhani, D.R. and Sirisena, D.N. (2013). Evaluation of seedling growth in fragrant rice (Oryza sativa) germplasms under salinity stress. Asian Journal of Food and Agro-Industry, 6 (5), 251-259.
Wijerathna, Yapa M.A.M. (2012). Advances of Basic Molecular Biology Techniques: Potential to Apply in Plant Viroid Detection in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Phytopathology, 1 (1), 88-93. doi: 10.33687/phytopath.001.01.0020
Conference Papers
Fortuna, Nicole, Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila and Beveridge, Christine A. (2023). Using the emergent properties of network topologies to predict phenotypic change. 10th International Conference on Functional-Structural Plant Models (FSPM2023), Berlin, Germany, March 27-31, 2023. Hannover, Germany: Institute of Horticultural Production Systems.
Fortuna, N. Z., Wijerathna-Yapa, A. and Beveridge, C. A. (2022). Modelling hormone signalling networks to better predict branching phenotypes. ComBio 2022, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), 27-30 September 2022.
Wijerathna-Yapa, A., Fortuna, N., Cooper, M. and Beveridge, C. A. (2022). Prior knowledge-driven branching phenotype prediction for shoot architecture improvement. ComBio 2022, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCE), 27-30 September 2022.
Signorelli, Santiago, Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Fenske, Ricarda, Ganguly, Diep R., Stroeher, Elke, Li, Lei, Pogson, Barry J., Duncan, Owen and Millar, A. Harvey (2022). Methylglyoxal catabolism is induced in autophagy mutants during photomorphogenesis. ASPB Plant Biology 2022, Portland, OR. United States, 9-13 July 2022. The American Society of Plant Biologists.
Fortuna, Nicole, Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila and Beveridge, Christine A. (2022). Modelling hormone signalling networks to better predict branching phenotypes. ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture Research Retreat, Hobart, TAS Australia, 30 May - 1 June 2022. ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture .
Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila, Fortuna, Nicole, Dun, Elizabeth, Lawson, Brodie, Cooper, Mark and Beveridge, Christine A. (2022). Prior Knowledge-driven Branching Phenotype Prediction for Shoot Architecture Improvement. ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture Research Retreat, Hobart, TAS Australia, 30 May - 1 June 2022.
Duncan, O., Wijerathna-Yapa, A. and Millar, A.H. (2019). Protein synthesis and degradation in the night and day: how cycling abundances are established and maintained. ARC CoE in Plant Energy - Biology Annual Forum 2019, Thredbo, NSW Australia , 4 - 6 June 2019. ARC CoE in Plant Energy.
Wijerathna-Yapa, A., Fenske, R., Li, L., Petereit, P., Cao, H., Stroher, E., Duncan, O. and Millar, A.H. (2019). Application of Proteomics Techniques to Organelle Abundance Profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana Autophagy Mutants. ARC CoE in Plant Energy Biology Annual Forum 2019, Thredbo, NSW Australia , 4 - 6 June 2019.
Wijerathna-Yapa, A., Fenske, R., Li, L. and Millar, A.H. (2018). Targeted Proteomics for Organelle Abundance Profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana Autophagy Mutants. ARC CoE in Plant Energy Biology Annual Forum 2018, The Vines, WA Australia, 11 - 13 September 2018. ARC CoE in Plant Energy Biology.
Kumarihami, H. M. P. C., Wijerathna, Y. M. A. M. and Beneragama, C. K. (2017). Extending the postharvest life of cut flowers with floral preservatives: A mini review. National Symposium on Floriculture Research (NaSFloR) 2017, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2017. Sri Lanka : Department of National Botanic Gardens, Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy.
Wijerathna-Yapa, A. and Mosquna, A. (2015). Screening an Arabidopsis cDNA Library for Interactor Proteins of Cyclase. The 2nd Pears Foundation Alumni Symposium in Plant Sciences, Rehovot, Israel, 7 - 9 September 2015.
Wijerathna, Y.M.A.M., Kottearchchi, N.S. , Gimhani, D.R. and Sirisena, D.N. (2011). Sri Lankan fragrant rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties are associated with decreased salt tolerance. 11th agricultural research symposium, Makandura, Sri Lanka, 20- 21 September 2011. Makandura, Sri Lanka: Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
Working Paper
García, Ana Paola Valladares , Wijerathna-Yapa, Akila , Mishra, Somyashree , Harun-Or-Rashid, Md., Nehra, Mamta, Ramtekey, Vinita , Angwi, Ndah Renata , Magar, Manu Maya , Opondo, Dora , Sasha, Kumar, Satish , Swati, Tenesi, Tanyaradzwa , Bentley, Alison R. and Basnet, Bhoja Raj (2022). In the pursuit of equality for women plant breeders around the world. Women in Crop Science. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7385758
Newspaper Articles
Wijerathna, Akila (2023, 01 01). Risk of worldwide hunger LMD 131.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 11 01). Climate and agriculture LMD 138.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 11 01). Farming needs reimagining
LMD 141.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 10 01). Zero hunger — the end goal LMD 135.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 09 02). Farming without farmland LMD 148-148.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 07 28). Flowering of a green idea — floriculture sector LMD 147-147 .
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 07 01). Farming and supply chains LMD 178.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 06 01). Big Challenges Small Farms LMD 142-142.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 05 01). Going green: the smart way LMD 124.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 04 01). Gains from smart farming LMD 114-114.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 03 03). Biotechnology's Golden Era LMD 183-183.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 02 01). Piggybacking on agriculture LMD 137.
Wijerathna, Akila (2022, 01 01). Supply chain disruptions LMD: The Voice of Business 144-144.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 12 01). Post-COVID food security LMD: The Voice of Business 184-184.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 11 01). Pest control in agri-food LMD: The Voice of Business 115-115.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 10 01). AI and climate emergencies LMD 69.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 09 01). Bio-based farm economy LMD 132-132.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 08 01). Bridging the Gender Gap — emphasises the need to empower female smallholder farmers LMD 138.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 07 01). Climate crisis and farming LMD 172.
Akila Wijerathna (2021, 06 01). Sustainable agriculture — indoor farming takes root LMD 126.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 05 01). Greener energy for crops LMD 144.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 04 01). Mitigating farming risks LMD 137.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 03 01). Protecting the planet - reducing food waste will curtail greenhouse gases LMD: The Voice of Business 155-155.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 02 01). The urban-rural divide — how biotechnology can develop rural economy LMD: The Voice of Business 117-117.
Wijerathna, Akila (2021, 01 01). Innovating for security - agriculture LMD: The Voice of Business 150-150.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 12 20). Next generation production LMD 132-132.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 11 01). Combating land degradation LMD: The Voice of Business 129-129.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 10 01). Resourceful conservation LMD: The Voice of Business 122-122.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 09 01). The breadbasket failures: the food system woes unearthed by the pandemic LMD 164-164.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 08 01). The pursuit of equality LMD 144-144.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 07 01). Ecological intensification LMD: The Voice of Business 128-128.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 06 01). The farming transformation LMD: The Voice of Business 116-116.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 05 01). Next generation farming LMD 116-116.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 04 01). Smallholder development: impact of urbanization on smallholder farmers LMD 150-150.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 03 01). Climate change proofing LMD 160-160.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 02 01). Organic farming: fresh look at agriculture LMD: The Voice of Business 142-142.
Wijerathna, Akila (2020, 01 01). Sustainable collaboration LMD: The Voice of Business 190-190.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 11 01). AGRO's Digital Revolution: How IT could transform traditional Agriculture? LMD 176.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 10 01). Investing in Development LMD 169.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 08 01). Production to go bananas? Unpeels the economic benefits of commercializing a fruit! LMD 136.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 07 01). The gender gap in farming LMD 193.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 06 01). Develop genetic diversity: Ramification of adapting crop heterogeneity LMD 167.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 06 01). Digital Farming: Agro made simple by 'E' LMD 172-172.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 05 01). Genetically Engineered DNA LMD 171.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 04 01). Growing Community Gardens LMD 139.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 03 01). The food security crunch LMD 155.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 02 01). The rise of smart foods LMD 168.
Wijerathna, Akila (2019, 01 01). Rescue act for food waste LMD 160.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 12 01). Crop protection solutions LMD 168.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 11 01). Untapped biotech potential LMD 197.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 10 01). Holistic farming practice LMD 168-168.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 09 01). The maze of biotechnology LMD 181-181.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 08 01). The trail of breadcrumbs - Post harvest losses LMD 175-175.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 07 01). Organic farming: Time to defy the convention LMD 229-229.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 05 01). The science of sharing LMD 213-213.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 04 01). Saving the plants from stress LMD 166-166.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 03 01). The future of agriculture LMD 202-202.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 02 01). Waste from green fields LMD 172-172.
Wijerathna, Akila (2018, 01 01). Family farming: Breaking the cycle LMD 178-178.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 12 01). Floriculture sector: The flowering state LMD 198-198.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 11 01). Agriculture revival: Organic farming LMD 235-235.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 10 01). The fruits of agriculture LMD 209-209.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 08 01). Food safety: Critical conscience LMD 182-182.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 07 01). Farm biodiversity: shared responsibility LMD 165-165.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 06 01). Urban ecosystems: The trees of city life LMD 206-206.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 05 01). Food safety: better safe than sorry LMD 174-174.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 04 01). Farmers' markets LMD 194-194.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 03 01). Small holder agriculture: Family farming LMD 182-182.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 02 01). Women in farming LMD 206-206.
Wijerathna, Akila (2017, 01 01). Start-up farming LMD 190-190.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 12 01). Future-ready farming techniques LMD 222-222.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 11 01). The seed of organic farming LMD 220-220.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 10 01). Urban agriculture: food security in the city LMD 220-220.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 09 01). Smart agriculture: inclusive farming LMD 203-203.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 08 01). Empowering farmers: examines the nexus between agriculture infrastructure and rural development. LMD 210-210.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 08 01). Farming for Tomorrow
LMD 236-236.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 06 01). Crop enabler: genetic engineering LMD 222-222.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 05 01). Bio dynamic agriculture: agriculture take a bow! LMD 212-212.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 05 01). Biotech ethics: roadblocks to research LMD 187-187.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 04 01). Farming boost from biotech LMD 182-182.
WIjerathna, Akila (2016, 02 01). Harnessing biotech for livestock LMD 195-195.
Wijerathna, Akila (2016, 01 18). The bio-economy. The all-new investment opportunity LMD 185-185.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 12 01). Debunking the myth: unravels the truth behind GMO
LMD 233-233.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 11 01). Sowing the seeds of productivity: weighs the ideal mix of farm seed inputs LMD 174-174.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 10 01). BioTech for business: explores the commercial viability of biotechnology LMD 166-166.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 09 01). The Ethics of Food Supply: weighs the merits of genetic crop manipulation LMD 193-193.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 08 01). Pest control: protecting the planet earth LMD 182-182.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 07 01). Tree conservation: blooming city LMD 192-192.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 06 01). Regenerating tourism LMD 195-195.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 05 01). Nourishing planet earth: unearth development in rice biotechnology LMD 166-166.
Wijerathna, Akila (2015, 03 01). In Search of Zero Waste: traces domestic waste management to townships LMd 169-169.
Preprints
Theses
Mudiyanselage, Akila Maduranga Wijerathna Yapa (2020). Unravelling the underlying components of autophagy-mediated photomorphogenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana. PhD Thesis, Doctoral Thesis, The University of Western Australia. doi: 10.26182/2hpj-7605
Yapa Mudiyanselage, Akila Maduranga Wijerathna (2016). Analysis of constitutively active pyrabactin resistance1/pyr1-like (pyl) receptors in early development of Arabidopsis thaliana. M.Sc Thesis, School of Agricultural Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Research Reports
Wijerathna Yapa, Akila (2019). Progeny test for generating single copy homozygous transgenic lines in Arabidopsis thaliana.. Berkeley, CA, United States: protocols.io. doi: 10.17504/protocols.io.5xrg7m6
Yapa, Akila Wijerathna, Bowerman, Andrew F. and Ganguly, Diep R. (2019). RNA extractions from de-etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings using CTAB. Berkeley, CA USA: protocols.io. doi: 10.17504/protocols.io.3f6gjre
Yapa Mudiyanselage, Akila Maduranga Wijerathna (2015). Identifying the function and biological role of novel protein (ABA receptor-like protein) and its interactor proteins by Y2H screen with Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA library. Jerusalem, Israel: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Wijerathna, Y.M.A.M. (2012). Application of biotechnology in intra cellular pathogen diagnostic of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) in Sri Lanka. Makandura, Sri Lanka: Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.