Christina Vimala Supramaniam

Contact

• workRoom BA36 Block B, School of Biosciences
  Malaysia Campus
  Jalan Broga
  43500 Semenyih
  Selangor Darul Ehsan
  Malaysia
• work+6 (03) 8924 8217
• fax+6 (03) 8924 8018
• Christina.Supramaniam@nottingham.edu.my
• http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Biosciences/People/christina.supramaniam

Biography

Dr Christina Supramaniam obtained her PhD in Molecular Plant Pathology from the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on the epidemiology, molecular interaction, and biological control of Ganoderma basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm. Dr Christina is an Assistant Professor at the School of Biosciences, and a member of the Centre of Sustainable Palm Oil Research (CESPOR) at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia. Prior to joining the University, Dr Christina was the Head of the Research Division at an International Biotechnology company and was a principle scientist for field trials to determine the efficacy of organic waste compost to improve soil microbial populations in oil palm plantations. She has vast experience working on microbial communities in diverse oil palm fields, soil types and manuring program for the suppression of BSR. Dr Christina has published several papers and has been invited to give keynote addresses on Ganoderma disease of oil palm in both local and international conferences. She has won several awards such as the UNMC- CESPOR- Eureka Synergy Research Award in 2015. She has supervised 40 undergraduate research projects and more than 10 postgraduate students. She has also been nominated as an internal examiner for four PhD candidates. Dr Christina is a reviewer for top scientific journals such as Plant Pathology (Wiley), Fungal Biology (Elsevier) and Crop Protection (Elsevier). She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Agency (HEA) UK and has memberships in the International Society for Plant Pathology and British Society for Plant Pathology.

Expertise Summary

Oil palm- Ganoderma spp. basal stem rot (BSR) disease

Molecular signaling for lignin biosynthesis during plant-pathogen interactions

Molecular diagnostics using qPCR and Sequencing for plant and crop diseases

Bio-formulation of microbial solution for soil and water remediation

Field technical advisory for sustainable production of palm oil

Methano-bacteria and Biogas production from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

Teaching Summary

Dr Christina specializes in the teaching and learning of Molecular Plant Pathology, Industrial Biotechnology, Microbiology and Commercialization in Biotechnology. These courses provide knowledge in… read more

Research Summary

Principle Investigator:

2016-2019: Fertilizer (FLOF) amended with mix cultures of Trichoderma spp. to control basal stem rot diseases in oil palm (Industrial grant)

2015: Bio-formulation of effective microorganism for the production of oil palm EFB-based biofertiliser (Industrial grant)

2013-2014: Quantitative expression of defence response in oil palm during pathogenesis of Ganoderma boninense, causal agent of basal stem rots disease (BSR) (Faculty Grant)

2011-2012: Development of a novel in vitro infection assay for oil palm-Ganoderma host-pathogen interaction system (Faculty Grant)

2008-2010: Efficacy of chitosan for the suppression of growth and production of ligninolytic enzymes by Ganoderma boninense in vitro (Ministry of Agriculture Science Grant)

Co-Investigator

2017-2018: Leaching trial with control release fertiliser for oil palm (Industrial grant)

2015-2017: The role of mussels in Malaysian freshwaters: towards the protection of species and their functions (FRGS, MOE)

2008-2011: Development of novel edible coatings from natural products for enhancing the storage life of tropical fruits (Ministry of Agriculture Science Grant)

2008-2010: The potential of palm oil as a natural penetration enhancer in transdermal therapeutic systems (MOSTI)

2007-2009: Percutaneous permeation of palm oil using human skin (MOSTI)

Recent Publications

• YAP CHEAU CHIN, WENDY P. Q. NG, MEI FONG CHONG, CHRISTINA V SUPRAMANIAM, CHAN YI JING and SOH KHEANG LOH, 2017. In: Oil Palm: Production, Impacts and Challenges: Challenges and Potential of Palm-based Biomass and Palm Oil Mill Effluent for the Production of Sustainable Power and Value-Added Products Nova Science Publishers. (In Press.)
• SUPRAMANIAM CV, GANESON M, AZMANNIZAM MIF, GOH KM and ALI A, 2017. Chitosan induction of defense response against basal stem rot disease in oil palm In: Proceedings of 5th KL International Agriculture, Forestry and Plantation Conference, 31 July-1 Aug 2017, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
• RIDZUAN, N.I., ABDULLAH, N., YAP L.V. and CHRISTINA V.S., 2017. Regeneration of Moringa Oleifera L. Using Nodal Segment as Explant for Induced Defence Enzymes In: Transaction of the Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology: Proceedings of 27th Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology Conference, 21-23 August 2017, Johor, Malaysia.
• SHANKARI S.M., YAP L.V. and CHRISTINA V.S., 2017. Tissue culture establishment and callus induction of Vernonia amygdalina using young leaves as explants In: Transaction of the Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology: Proceedings of 27th Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology Conference, 21-23 August 2017, Johor, Malaysia.

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Dr Christina specializes in the teaching and learning of Molecular Plant Pathology, Industrial Biotechnology, Microbiology and Commercialization in Biotechnology. These courses provide knowledge in applied microbiology, molecular diagnostics for plant diseases, industrial production of microbial products and technical and commercial aspects of Biotechnology entrepreneurship. She has been a convenor for Undergraduate Research Projects in Biosciences and Chair for Undergraduate Research Symposium between 2012 and 2017. Dr Christina teaches in the following modules:

BIOS 3080 Commercialization in Biotechnology

BIOS 2058 Industrial Biotechnology

BIOS 3062 Environmental Biotechnology

BIOS 2045 Introductory Plant Pathology

BIOS 3052 Molecular Plant Pathology

BIOS 1033 Microbial Physiology

Future Research

1. Quality and Quantity analyses of lignin in Ganoderma infected oil palms.
2. Microbiome Project : Spatial and temporal analyses of rhizosphere microbiome for disease suppression in oil palm (International collaborations)
3. Promotion of Sustainable Value Chain of Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia (International collaborations)

• YAP CHEAU CHIN, WENDY P. Q. NG, MEI FONG CHONG, CHRISTINA V SUPRAMANIAM, CHAN YI JING and SOH KHEANG LOH, 2017. In: Oil Palm: Production, Impacts and Challenges: Challenges and Potential of Palm-based Biomass and Palm Oil Mill Effluent for the Production of Sustainable Power and Value-Added Products Nova Science Publishers. (In Press.)
• SUPRAMANIAM CV, GANESON M, AZMANNIZAM MIF, GOH KM and ALI A, 2017. Chitosan induction of defense response against basal stem rot disease in oil palm In: Proceedings of 5th KL International Agriculture, Forestry and Plantation Conference, 31 July-1 Aug 2017, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
• RIDZUAN, N.I., ABDULLAH, N., YAP L.V. and CHRISTINA V.S., 2017. Regeneration of Moringa Oleifera L. Using Nodal Segment as Explant for Induced Defence Enzymes In: Transaction of the Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology: Proceedings of 27th Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology Conference, 21-23 August 2017, Johor, Malaysia.
• SHANKARI S.M., YAP L.V. and CHRISTINA V.S., 2017. Tissue culture establishment and callus induction of Vernonia amygdalina using young leaves as explants In: Transaction of the Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology: Proceedings of 27th Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology Conference, 21-23 August 2017, Johor, Malaysia.
• YAP CHEAU CHIN, SOH KL, CHONG MEI FONG and CHAN YJ, 2017. Palm Oil Potential: Sector Challenges Palm Oil Biogas TCE The Chemical Engineer. 42-45
• GOH KM and DICKINSON M, 2017. Morphological and transcripts changes in the biosynthesis of lignin in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) in vitro during Ganoderma boninense infection Physiologia Plantarum. (In Press.)
• SUPRAMANIAM CV, GANESON M, AZMANNIZAM MIF, GOH KM, ALI A and DICKINSON M, 2017. Chitosan induction of defense response against basal stem rot disease caused by Ganoderma spp. in young oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). In: 3rd International Conference on Plant Genetics and Genomic, Chandigarh, India.
• GOH, K. M., DICKINSON, M., ALDERSON, P., YAP, L. V. and SUPRAMANIAM, C. V., 2016. DEVELOPMENT OF AN IN PLANTA INFECTION SYSTEM FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF GANODERMA spp. IN OIL PALM JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY. 98(2), 255-264
• SUPRAMANIAM CV, GOH, KM, TAN EE, YUSOF NA and TRAN NLH, 2016. Characterisation and DNA identification of Colletotrichum spp., anthracnose pathogen in Sekaki papaya, Chokanan mango & dragon fruit: Towards an early molecular detection of anthracnose disease in tropical fruits In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Life Science(ICFLS-16), Tiruchirapalli, India.
• SUPRAMANIAM CV, GOH KM, ALI A and DICKINSON M, 2016. Biosynthesis and gene expression of lignin intermediates in oil palm, Elaies guineensis during Ganoderma spp. fungal infection In: 2nd International Conference on Plant Genetics and Genomics, New Delhi, India.
• GOH KM, DICKINSON M, HOTTA K and SUPRAMANIAM CV, 2015. Biosynthesis of lignin in Elaeis guineensis during early stages of pathogenesis of Ganoderma boninense In: 11th Malaysia Genetics Congress (MGC11), Perdana University, Malaysia.
• GOH KM, DICKINSON M, HOTTA K and SUPRAMANIAM CV, 2015. Early defence responses in Elaeis guineensis lignin biosynthesis pathway during pathogenesis of Ganoderma boninense In: Proceedings of the Australasian Plant Pathology Conference (ASPP), Fremantle, Australia.
• KAR MUN GOH, MENAKA GANESON AND CHRISTINA VIMALA SUPRAMANIAM, 2014. Infection potential of vegetative incompatible Ganoderma boninense isolates with known ligninolytic enzyme production African Journal of Biotechnology. 13(9), 1056-1066
• SUPRAMANIAM CV, GOH KM, TAN EE, YUSOF NA and TRAN NLH, 2014. Characterisation and DNA identification of Colletotrichum spp., anthracnose pathogen in Sekaki papaya, Chokanan mango and dragon fruit In: Proceedings of International Conference of Plant Physiology:Enhancing Strategic Plant Physiological Research and Technologies for Sustainable Resources, Bali, Indonesia.
• GOH KM, ALI A, DICKINSON M and SUPRAMANIAM CV, 2014. Establishment of a novel in vitro inoculation system for Ganoderma boninense infection in Elaeis guineensis In: Monash Sciences Symposium (MSS), Monash University, Malaysia.
• GOH KM and SUPRAMANIAM CV, 2013. Infection potential of vegetative incompatible Ganoderma boninense isolates with known ligninolytic enzymes production In: Postgraduate Symposium on Plant Protection (PSPP), UNITEN, Malaysia.
• GOH KM and SUPRAMANIAM CV, 2013. Ligninolytic enzymes – Natural weapon of Ganoderma boninense in killing oil palm? In: 38th Annual Conference of The Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSBMB38), Putrajaya, Malaysia.
• GANESON M, SUPRAMANIAM CV and ALDERSON PA, 2012. In vitro effect of chitosan on growth and lignin degrading enzyme production in Ganoderma boninense, basal stem rot disease pathogen of oil palm In: Proceedings of 64th International Symposium on Crop Protection, Ghent, Belgium. 77. 326
• GANESON M, SUPRAMANIAM CV and ALDERSON PA, 2011. Antifungal effect of chitosan on the mycelia growth of Ganoderma boninense, basal stem rot (BSR) pathogen of oil palm in vitro In: Proceedings of the 3rd MPOB-IOPRI International Seminar: Integrated oil palm pests and diseases management, KLCC, Malaysia. 101-105
• SIEW KIAN CHIN, CHUNG LAW LAW, CHRISTINA VIMALA SUPRAMANIAM, POH GUAT CHENG, ARUN MUJUMDAR, 2009. Thin layer drying characteristics and quality evaluation of air-dried Ganoderma tsugae Murrill. DRYING TECHNOLOGY. 27(9), 975-984
• GANESON M and SUPRAMANIAM CV, 2009. Preliminary evaluation of antifungal activity of chitosan products on mycelia growth of Ganoderma boninense In: Proceedings of Agriculture Congress 2009, Tropical Agriculture in a Changing Climate and Energy Scenario. Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang. 376-378
• SIEW KIAN CHIN, CHUNG LAW LAW, CHRISTINA VIMALA SUPRAMANIAM, POH GUAT CHENG, ARUN MUJUMDAR, 2008. Convective drying of Ganoderma tsugae Murrill and effect of temperature on basidiospores. Drying Technology DRYING TECHNOLOGY. 26, 1524-1533
• CHRISTINA V.S ,, 2007. Preliminary study to determine the efficacy of chitosan as an antifungal agent against mycelia growth of Ganoderma boninense: Changing scenarios in fungal research and innovation In: Asian Mycology Congress and International Marine and Freshwater Mycology Symposium:. 266-6
• CHRISTINA V.S, MICROGREEN BIO-INDUSTRIAL SDN. BHD, 2005. Fungicidal composition and its said method Malaysian Patent PI2 01/01/1900 00:00:00
• C.V. SUPRAMANIAM, G. R. RAHMAT ALI, R. A. RAHIM, N. M. SALEH., 2002. Plantaricin : natural and effective food preservative In: 25th Malaysian Microbiology Symposium and 5TH UNESCO National Workshop for the Promotion of Microbiology in Malaysia.
• CHRISTINA V.S, SALEH, N.M and GULAM, R.A., 2001. Isolation of gene that encode for plantaricin in Lactobacillus plantarum In: 24th Malaysian Microbiology Society Symposium, New Horizons in Microbiology. 172-175