Personal profile

Personal profile

My expertise lies in the field of Biomechanics/Biomaterials, Seed Physiology, Food Security, Sustainable agri-technologies and Seed Morphology with 18 years’ experience in the field. My current projects investigate seed priming, seed ageing, pericarp mechanics, pelleting mass characterisation, pre-harvest sprouting and seed imaging.

Research interests

  • The biomechanics of seed germination, endosperm weakening and the biophysics of seed and fruit traits
  • The biomechanics and uniformity of seedling establishment upon abiotic stress
  • Seed and fruit dispersal biophysics, including diaspore heteromorphism and bet-hedging
  • Crop seed technology projects with industry, including on the propetries of pellet materials and gas plasma agriculture
  • Impactful research into improving crop seed quality through environmentally sustainable technologies to benefit the seed industry and promote food security

Research interests (continued)

Fracture biomechanics of the pericarp and the effect of fungal degradation on the mechanical resistance of distinct Lepidium didymum fruit valve regions. Comparative puncture force analysis of the distal and proximal pericarp regions. Fungal activity caused a drastic decrease by ~52% in the mechanical resistance of the distal pericarp where the pericarp rupture is initiated and the radicle will emerge. A smaller but significant decrease by fungal activity of ~30% was evident in the proximal and dorsal pericarp regions. Sperber/Steinbrecher et al. (2017) Nature Comms 8: 1868

Research interests (continued)

Comparative Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Tomographic Microscopy (SRXTM) results obtained during diaspore development in the dehiscent (DEH) and indehiscent (IND) fruits of Ae. arabicum with 3D surface (isosurface) representations and longitudinal slices through tomographic volumes depicting seed and coat development at the respective stage. Arshad et al (2021) The Plant Journal 107: 166-181

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or