In recognition of her groundbreaking work on fungal taxonomy, Dr. Dimuthu S. Manamgoda of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura has joined the rare ranks of scientists immortalized in species nomenclature. A newly discovered fungal species, Curvularia manamgodae, now bears her name.
The species was identified during a comprehensive survey of plant pathogenic fungi affecting sugarcane in southern China. The research team, led by scientists from Thailand and China, honoured Dr. Manamgoda’s significant contributions to understanding the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of complex fungal genera including Bipolaris, Cochliobolus, and Curvularia.
“This recognition reflects the global impact of Dr. Manamgoda’s research in mycology,” says Professor Kevin D. Hyde, one of the study’s co-authors. The new species, formally registered with Index Fungorum (556662) and Facesoffungi (FoF06152), was described in detail with comprehensive illustrations in the team’s recent publication.
Dr. Manamgoda, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Botany, Faculty of Applied Sciences, has established herself as a leading authority in fungal taxonomy. Her work has been instrumental in clarifying the relationships between several economically important plant pathogenic fungi.
This discovery adds to our understanding of sugarcane pathogens and highlights the University of Sri Jayewardenepura’s growing influence in global mycological research.
