Anirban Jyoti Debnath

I am a passionate researcher cum keen learner trained in plant tissue culture and functional genomics seeking a postdoctoral position particularly to learn about the role of stress tolerance in plants for crop improvement. I am a self-driven, highly motivated science explorer. In this journey, I expect knowledge using hard work, research ability, technical skills and perseverance to gather novel insights either in the basic or applied field that can be beneficial to society. My Doctoral research revolved around the strategy for yield improvement of the “Queen of oilseed” Sesamum indicum L. (sesame). During this period, I established the regeneration and transformation protocol for the recalcitrant oilseed crop sesame, identified one of its anther-specific gene promoters and studied its anther-specific expression using the transgenic approach in this plant. The identified gene promoter can be used to make male-sterile lines in sesame to exploit heterosis for crop improvement. I have got training in plant tissue culture and functional genomics during my PhD tenure. I want to expand my research ability and technical skills beyond the experiences of my Doctoral research by exploring diverse fields of plant biology research such as developmental biology and/or stress response in search of a simple method of yield improvement for crop plants. All these different experiences could help me to become a skilled researcher and independent thinker of solutions to scientific problems. Doctoral Research My doctoral research was based on anther/tapetum-specific promoter expression in Sesamum indicum L. The oil yield of this high-valued oil-seed crop is very less for successful commercialisation. Manipulation of anther/tapetum-specific genes through their thorough study leads to develop a male sterile line in sesame that has immense possibility to exploit heterosis to improve the productivity of the crop. However, due to the non-availability of cytoplasmic male sterile, restorer and maintainer lines in sesame, identification and isolation of spatiotemporally expressed genes of anther with reference to tapetum tissue were studied. Simultaneously, minute optimisation of every step of regeneration and transformation protocol for the establishment of transgenic sesame lines was carried out to monitor the tapetum-specific expression of the upstream elements of promising genes in sesame. The presence of shoot apical meristem in the regenerating explants was observed through scanning electron microscopic study suggesting the organogenic nature of regeneration. Tapetum-specific genes that were identified by sesame anther specific leaf cDNA subtraction mediated functional-genomic approaches yielded one EST having homology with tobacco β-1, 3-glucanase. Moreover, the upstream element (named as GN13) of the sesame gene homologue was identified by 5'RACE and PCR-mediated walking, suitably cloned in binary pCAMBIA 2301 and transformed in Agrobacterium tumefaciences. Through the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), the anther-specific expression of GN13-driven GUS was at first observed by histological GUS assay in T1 progenies of the model system. Homologous expression of GN13-driven GUS was also found in T1 transgenic progenies of sesame through histological GUS assay. Besides that, tapetum-specific heterologous GUS expression driven by the well-known TA29 promoter of tobacco was also detected by the transgenic approach in sesame. The work concludes that successful standardisation of sesame transformation with homologous and heterologous anther-specific promoters to guide the expression of the transgene in the tapetum tissue of anther. Expertise I have learned various scientific techniques of plant tissue culture and molecular biology throughout my PhD tenure. During the study of plant regeneration and transformation, I gained extensive knowledge of various plant tissue culture techniques as well as light, fluorescent, and scanning electron microscopic techniques. During the analysis of T1 transgenic plants to confirm their transgenic nature, I gained experience in southern blot analysis. During the functional genomics study, I also gained expertise in various molecular biology techniques such as vector design and construction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, gene cloning, cDNA library and restriction digestion. Furthermore, during the study of anther-specific GUS expression, I gained experience with microtome sectioning. I am excited to apply my expertise suitably in future research while also learning new and innovative scientific methodologies and techniques to expand my knowledge. Future Exploration Plans I expect my scientific journey in search of a relatively simple and novel ways of crop improvement so that I could enhance the productivities of Indian crop plants possibly through improved stress tolerance. I am also ready to gather insights in other diversified fields of plant sc.