Dr. Debasis Pattanayak
Principal Scientist
I did my graduation in Agriculture from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal; M. Sc and Ph. D. in Biochemistry from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. I joined Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla as Scientist (Plant Biochemistry) in 1995 and served the institute for 16 years in different capacities. I joined National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology in 2011 as Principal Scientist.
I developed RNAi cold-chipping transgenic potato with low reducing sugars and acceptable chip colour after long-duration of cold storage. An Indian Patent application for this work is at advanced stage of approval.
I successfully demonstrated host-delivered RNAi strategy for gram pod borer resistance in transgenic tobacco background. Two pre-patent applications were filed.
I developed late blight resistant potato somatic hybrids and RNAi transgenic potato; initiated participation of ICAR in Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium for sequencing of potato chromosome-2; accomplished DNA fingerprinting of Indian potato cultivars and advanced hybrids by RAPD and SSR; and Bt serovar identification and characterization by AFLP.
I am recipient of National Merit Scholarship by Government of India (1983-1989); Lal Bahadur Shastri Young Scientist Award in 2001 by ICAR, NAAS and DBT Associateship.
Presently at NRCPB I am serving as In-charge, PME Cell; Nodal Officer, HRD and NPTC transgenic component; Institute Bio-safety Officer; and Management Representative for ISO certification of the institute.