I am Darshani Weerahewa, a Professor in the Department of Botany at the Open University of Sri Lanka. My research interest in this field is marked by having a h index, and i10th index of 13; 814 citations and 05th position in the Open University academics based on Google Scholar credentials.
I obtained my Doctoral degree from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka in 2002. My interest in the postharvest field emerged through my research on “A Study of Internal Browning of Two Cultivars of Pineapple with Special Reference to Heat Shock Treatment as a Control Measure”. I successfully developed strategies to reduce internal browning disorder in pineapples and disseminated my findings in indexed journals. I was honoured by receiving Presidential Awards based on these project outcomes for the publications.
I contributed to the teaching of undergraduate degree programmes at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and the Open University of Sri Lanka, University of Colombo and the University of Peradeniya for Master of Science students for postharvest courses and practical sessions.
My primary research area is pre- and post-harvest technology of fresh produce. Over the last twenty years, I have led projects, such as the National Thematic Research Programme funded by the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, focusing on food security through the adoption of pre-harvest technologies. This project aimed to improve the quality of fresh produce by applying potassium and silicon to the soil. I have authored ten journal articles in peer-reviewed indexed journals and numerous abstracts and conference proceedings based on this work. The main focus areas include the application of low-cost silicon sources to reduce losses, improve quality and reduce diseases in perishable fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, leeks, capsicums, papayas, pineapples and salad cucumbers. My research also aims to understand the mechanisms of quality improvement, yield increase and shelf-life extension of fresh produce.
