Rate My Professor Kosala Ranathunge

Ranathunge's research centers on the efficient phosphorus-acquiring and utilizing strategies of iconic Australian native plants, particularly Proteaceae, adapted to phosphorus-impoverished, weathered soils. His interests include plant stress physiology under abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, waterlogging, osmotic stress, heavy metals, nutrient stress) and biotic stresses (pathogens); plant ecophysiology; anatomy and histochemistry; molecular biology; and biochemistry. Key projects encompass phosphorus-efficient Australian plants for crop improvement, silicon-mediated salt tolerance in barley genotypes, functional roles of root components in rice nutrient uptake, and mechanisms of phosphorus acquisition versus mycorrhiza involvement in pathogen defense in Proteaceae. Notable publications include "Biochemical phosphorus allocation is linked to photosynthetic phosphorus-use efficiency in a phosphorus-impoverished environment" (New Phytologist, 2026); "Pasteurisation of soil from an extremely phosphorus-impoverished habitat increases phosphorus availability and enhances the growth of Agonis flexuosa (Myrtaceae)" (Plant and Soil, 2026); "Water and solute permeabilities of Arabidopsis roots in relation to the amount and composition of aliphatic suberin" (Plant Physiology, 2011); and "Soybean Root Suberin and Partial Resistance to Root Rot Caused by Phytophthora sojae" (Phytopathology, 2008). His work has secured ARC funding, including the Future Fellowship and Discovery Projects.