University of Peradeniya

About: University of Peradeniya is a education organization based out in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 5970 authors who have published 7388 publications receiving 197002 citations.

Chlorophyll a : b Ratio Increases Under Low-light in 'Shade-tolerant' Euglena gracilis

Abstract: Shade tolerance is a key adaptive strategy displayed by heliophytic photosynthetic organisms in response to limited light. Although generalized morphological and physiological traits associated with shade tolerance exist, the interest in shade tolerance has been expanding over the past few years due primarily to the controversies that have emerged on classical hypotheses of shade tolerance. In this paper the shade responses of unicellular excavate Euglena gracilis is discussed. Euglena was photoautotrophically grown under three different light intensities; 28, 84 and 210 μmol m -2 s -1 . Results revealed that E. gracilis is a shade tolerant species which exhibits some typical shade tolerant responses such as decrease in growth rate, light saturation point, light compensation point and dark respiration rate, and increased chlorophyll content. Most importantly, it is reported for the first time that the shade tolerance of this organism is also characterized by the increased chlorophyll a:b ratio, contradicting the generally accepted hypothesis of decreased chlorophyll a:b in shade tolerance response. The probable reasons for increased chlorophyll a:b ratio in E. gracilis under shade are also discussed. Key words: Chlorophyll; Fluorescence; Photosynthesis; PSI; PSII. DOI: 10.4038/tar.v22i1.2666 Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 22 (1): 12-25 (2010)

Numerical modelling of consolidation and evaporation of slurried mine tailings

Abstract: Large-strain consolidation theory has been used as the basis of a computer program for dealing with the problem of consolidation of slurried tailings. The work was carried out in the context of the gold-mining industry in Western Australia, where net annual evaporation rates are high (from about 3 to more than 4 m/yr). Therefore, a simple, but effective, method of dealing with evaporation has been included in the model. The paper describes the model, and then uses it with some typical problems to illustrate its versatility and to show the complexity of the behaviour which can occur.

Psychological autopsy study of suicide in three rural and semi-rural districts of Sri Lanka

Abstract: Background Knowledge concerning the epidemiology of suicide in Sri Lanka is limited despite its suicide rates being amongst the highest in the world.