Dr Nimesha Fernando - Research

Current research projects

  • Aquatic weed management- Lake Wendouree project
  • Understating physiology and ecology of invasive weed species under changing climate conditions

Research publications

  1. Fernando, N., Hirotsu, N., Panozzo, J., Tausz, M., Norton, R., Seneweera, S., 2016. Lower grain nitrogen content of wheat at elevated CO2 can be improved through post-anthesis NH4+ supplement. Journal of cereal Science 74, 79-85.
  2. Fernando, N, Humphries, T., Florentine, S., Chauhan, B. 2016. Factors affecting seed germination of Feather fingergrass (Chloris virgata). Weed Science 64 (4), 605-612.
  3. Florentine, S.K., Weller, S., Graz, P., Florentine, A., Javaid, M., Fernando, N., Chauhan, B., Westbrooke, M. 2016. Influence of selected environmental factors on seed germination and seedling survival of the arid zone invasive species Nicotiana glauca R. Graham (tobacco bush), The Rangeland Journal 38 (4) 417-425
  4. Fernando, N., Manalil, S., Florentine, S.K., Chauhan, B.S., Seneweera, S. 2016. Glyphosate resistance of C3 and C4 weeds under rising atmospheric CO2. Frontiers Plant Science doi.10.3389/fpls.2016.00910
  5. Dietterich LH, Zanobetti A, Kloog I, Huybers P, Leakey ADB, Bloom AJ, Carlisle E, Fernando N, Fitzgerald G, Hasegawa T, Holbrook NM, Nelson R. L, Norton R, Ottman MJ, Raboy V, Sakai H, Sartor K. A, Schwartz J, Seneweera S, Usui Y, Yoshinaga S, Myers SS. 2015. Impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 on nutrient content of important food crops. Scientific Data 2: 150036.
  6. Fernando, N., Panozzo, J., Tausz, M., Norton, R., Fitzgerald, G., Khan, A., Seneweera, S., 2015. Rising CO2 concentration altered wheat grain protein quality and rheological characteristics. Food Chemistry 170, 448-454.
  7. Fernando, N., Panozzo, J., Tausz, M., Norton, R., Fitzgerald, G., Myers, S., Nicolas, M. E., Seneweera, S., 2014. Intra-specific variation of wheat grain quality in response to elevated [CO2] at two sowing times under rain-fed and irrigation treatments. Journal of Cereal Science 59 (2), 137-144.
  8. Fernando, N., Panozzo, J., Tausz, M., Norton, R., Neumann, N., Fitzgerald, J., Seneweera, S., 2014. Elevated CO2 alters grain quality of two bread wheat cultivars grown under different environmental conditions. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 185, 24-33.
  9. Fernando, N., Panozzo, J., Tausz, M., Norton, R., Fitzgerald, G., Seneweera, S., 2012. Rising atmospheric CO2 concentration affects mineral nutrient and protein concentration of wheat grain. Food Chemistry 133, 1307-1311.
  10. Fernando, N., Panozzo, J., Tausz, M., Norton, R., Fitzgerald, G., Myers, S., Walker, C., Stangoulis, J., Seneweera, S., 2012. Wheat grain quality under increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations in a semi-arid cropping system. Journal of Cereal Science 56, 684-690.
  11. Peiris, T. U. S., Samita, S., Fernando, N., 2007. Analysis of Variability of Bright Sunshine Hours And Temperature in Tea-growing Areas in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Tea Science 71 (2), 75-88.
  12. Fernando, N., Panozzo J, Tausz M, Norton R, Fitzgerald G, Seneweera S. 2012. Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Affects Grain Sulfur Concentration and Grain Nitrogen/Sulfur Ratio of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) In: De Kok L. J, Tausz M, Hawkesford M. J, Hoefgan R, McManus M. T, Norton R. M, Rennenberg H, Saito K, Schnug E, Tabe L, eds. Sulfur Metabolism in Plants-Mechanisms and Applications to Food Security and Responses to Climate Change, Proceedings of the International Plant Sulfur Workshop. Springer Science, 231-236.
  13. Florentine, S.K., Graz, P., Doronila, A., Fernando, N., Building Suitable Restoration Approaches in the Brownfields In: Devasahayam, S., Dowling, K., Mahapatra, MK., eds. Sustainability in the Mineral and Energy Sectors, Chapter 13, CRC Press, 223-239.
  14. Mahmood AH, Florentine S, Fernando N, Wright W, Palmer G, McLaren D, Sillitoe J. 2016. Investigations into the effects of elevated carbon dioxide and drought on the growth and physiology of carpet weed (Galenia pubescens Eckl. & Zeyh.). Proceedings of the 20th Australian Weeds Conference, Perth, Australia., pp 347-350.
  15. Norton RM, Lam SK, Seneweera S, Fernando N, Armstrong R, Tausz-Posch S, Tausz M, Fitzgerald G, Chen D. 2011. Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Wheat Nutrition-Lessons From The Australian Grains free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment Experiments. Proceedings of XCII International Plant Nutrition Colloquium, Istanbul, Turkey., pp 97-98.
  16. Fernando N, Panozzo J, Tausz M, Norton R, Fitzgerald G, Seneweera S. 2011. Wheat grain quality at elevated [CO2] under Mediterranean climate conditions. Universitas 21 Graduate Research Conference on Food Proceedings, June 2011. pp.121-125.
  17. Seneweera S, Fernando N, Thilakarathne L, Posch S, Cane K, Fitzgerald G, Norton R. 2011. Wheat grain protein content and quality under rising atmospheric CO2: The role of whole plant nitrogen uptake, partitioning and photosynthesis. ComBio2011, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

Professional memberships and associations

  • American Society of Crop Science
  • Weed Science Society
  • Agronomy Australia