Contact Dr Sisanda Mthembu
Areas of expertise
- Food Quality
Background
Dr Sisanda Mthembu obtained his PhD in Horticultural Science in 2024 at the University of KwaZulu‑Natal, specialising in postharvest biology, plant pathology, enzymology and fruit quality physiology. His MSc focused on predicting postharvest quality using visible and near‑infrared spectroscopy (VIS/NIRS), which established his expertise in biochemical and non‑destructive analytical technologies.
Before and during his doctoral studies, Dr Mthembu gained research experience across horticultural and forestry systems. At the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, he contributed to applied research programmes that included developing rapid VIS/NIRS soil analysis methods and overseeing large‑scale field trials assessing pest and disease pressures. He also played a key role in the Eucalypt Tree Improvement Programme, where he was involved in breeding trials aimed at developing superior eucalyptus species, contributing to productivity and sustainability in commercial forestry. His role further extended to student mentorship and supporting industry aligned technology transfer.
His academic research focuses on sustainable postharvest technologies that reduce losses and extend the storage life of climacteric fruit. He has made contributions to understanding fruit softening and senescence through work on hexanal‑based formulations and moringa‑based biopolymer coatings. His work explores antioxidant retention, enzyme activity regulation and defence responses against fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, revealing key mechanisms by which natural compounds maintain firmness, enhance resistance and preserve fruit quality during storage.
Dr Mthembu’s interdisciplinary portfolio integrates plant physiology, pathology, spectroscopy, biochemistry and applied storage technology, reflecting his commitment to developing scalable, eco‑friendly solutions that address postharvest losses, supply chain challenges and food quality deterioration.
Current activities
Dr Mthembu is currently serving as a Postharvest Bioscience Researcher (KTP Associate) jointly embedded within Westfalia Fruit UK and Cranfield University, where he leads research activities focused on optimising postharvest management of avocado across a global supply chain. His work centres on developing sustainable, scientifically robust strategies to reduce waste and extend storage life from harvest to the final consumer.
In this role, Dr Mthembu employs techniques to quantify fruit responses, during storage, ripening and handling. He integrates these findings into standardised postharvest management strategies designed for implementation across Westfalia’s operations and collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams across Westfalia’s operations. His work includes designing storage extension protocols and conducting trials to assess fruit quality and behaviour under commercial supply chain conditions.
His responsibilities also include project management and regular communication with industry stakeholders, delivering research updates and supporting business case development to enable the adoption of innovative postharvest solutions across the Westfalia network. In addition, he undertakes cost benefit analyses of proposed interventions to ensure that recommended practices are both scientifically sound and economically viable.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Mthembu SS, Zeray Tesfay S, Mditshwa A & Magwaza LS. (2025). Hexanal-based formulation delays softening in ‘Y368’ kiwifruit across maturity stages by preserving cell wall polysaccharides and suppressing cell wall-degrading enzymes. International Journal of Fruit Science, 25(1)
- Mthembu SS, Tesfay SZ, Mditshwa A & Magwaza LS. (2025). Hexanal-containing dip treatment enhances kiwifruit resistance to Botrytis cinerea. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 135
- Mthembu SS, Magwaza LS, Tesfay SZ & Mditshwa A. (2024). Advancing fruit preservation: ecofriendly treatments for controlling fruit softening. Horticulturae, 10(9)
- Mthembu SSL, Magwaza LS, Tesfay SZ & Mditshwa A. (2024). Corrigendum: Mechanism of enhanced freshness formulation in optimizing antioxidant retention of gold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) harvested at two maturity stages. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8
- Mthembu SSL, Magwaza LS, Tesfay SZ & Mditshwa A. (2023). Mechanism of enhanced freshness formulation in optimizing antioxidant retention of gold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) harvested at two maturity stages. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7
- Mthembu S, Tesfay SZ, Mditshwa A & Magwaza LS. (2021). Efficacy of moringa leaf extract and carboxymethyl cellulose on optimizing postharvest quality of tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum) harvested at different maturity stages. Acta Horticulturae, 1306(1306)
- Mthembu S, Tesfay SZ, Magwaza LS & Mditshwa A. (2020). Effect of moringa based edible coatings to enhance quality and shelf life of papaya (Carica papayaL.). Acta Horticulturae, 1299(1299)