Chattanooga, TN – According to the state officials, n her role, Dr. Prabha Liyanapathiranage was tasked with diagnosing plant diseases, identifying plant pests, educating plant inspectors and stakeholders about invasive pests, and collaborating with pathologists on pathogens of regional, national, and international significance.
During her master’s degree program, Liyanapathiranage focused on sustainable approaches for managing soil-borne diseases in woody ornamental nurseries in Tennessee.
After completing her Ph.D., she joined Tennessee State University’s Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tenn., as a post-doctoral researcher.
There, she played a crucial role in conducting research on vascular streak dieback, a significant threat to woody ornamental production in the southeast. Given Tennessee’s prominence as the leading redbud producer in the nation, the economic impact of this issue was considerable, and her research made a significant contribution towards addressing it.