Dr. Samir C. Debnath, P.Ag.

Research Scientist

Plant Propagation, Biotechnology, Biodiversity and Germplasm Improvement

304 Brookfield Road, BLDG 25, St. John, NL

Current research and/or projects

1. Innovative techniques for screening, propagation and utilization of wild berry crops for sustainable northern agriculture

2. Tissue culture techniques for the rapid multiplication, selection and improvement of blueberry plants

3. Understanding Indigenous food systems and revitalizing key Indigenous food plants in Interior and Coastal regions of British Columbia

4. Lingonberry from the Prairies: Enhancing the sustainable development of lingonberry with health benefits

5. Blueberry development program: evaluation and selection under field condition

Research and/or project statements

The aim of research is to develop and improve in vitro and molecular technologies for propagation and characterization of northern berry crops, in broad and multi-disciplinary areas which diversify and add value to rural economies in northern summer regions of Canada at national and international levels. Research includes (i) new areas of berry micropropagation (somatic embryogenesis, stationary bioreactor) and molecular studies (DNA methylation, fingerprinting) leading to the development of new propagation techniques, (ii) to generate knowledge on clonal fidelity and epigenetics to support the berry industry in Canada and abroad and (iii) to characterize and utilize the wild berry germplasm for propagation, conservation, selection, property rights protection and genetic enhancement.

Professional activities / interests

Editor-in-Chief (IAPB), In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant

Editor-in-Chief, Scientia Horticulturae (2013 - 2016).

Panel Chair of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Peer Review process for the NP 301 Panel 7B; Berries (2018) of the USDA, ARS 301 Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics & Genetic Improvement National Program 2017-18 (Cb-1.21).

Special Issue Editor (Guest Editor) of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395).

Academic Editor and Editorial Board Members - Agronomy (MDPI), 2017 to present (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/editors).

Academic Editor and Editorial Board Members - Diversity (MDPI), 2009 to present (http://www.mdpi.com/journal/diversity/editors/).

President – Canadian Society for Horticultural Science (CSHS) – (2011 – 2016).

Registrar - Newfoundland and Labrador Institute of Agrologists (NLIA) – (2010- present).

Conference Co-Chair - 12th International Vaccinium Symposium, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2021.

Adjunct Professors and co-supervision of Ph.D. student - Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, Gautam Budha Nagar, India.

Adjunct Professor and co-supervision of Ph.D. students - Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Education and awards

Postdoc. Fed. Biol. Res. Centre, Germany 1985-1986

Postdoc. Nottingham University, U.K.

Ph.D. Indian Agric. Res. Institute, New Delhi 1982

M.Sc. Bangladesh Agric. University, Mymensingh 1974

B.Sc.Ag. (Hons.) Bangladesh Agric. University, Mymensingh 1973

Agricultural Institute of Canada (AIC) Award 2014

International experience and/or work

Collaborative research with colleagues in many countries including Norway, United States, India, Korea and Bangladesh.

Key publications

13th International Vaccinium Symposium Halifax
2024 - View publication details
Sharifi et al. 2023. Accelerating the development of sustainable pest management practices to support Indigenous food systems in British Columbia. WFN Project report.
2023 - View publication details
Sharifi et al. 2022. Revitalizing knowledge of scwicw’s growing conditions, propagation and preservation. NIB Project report.
2022 - View publication details
Sharifi, M., C Moffat, D. Ensing, S. Debnath, J. MacDonald, J. Pollard-Flamand, K. Fong, L. Malunga, S. Joseph, V. Marshall, B. Rabie, T. Nelson, C. Harlton, and D. Martin. 2022. Revitalizing knowledge of scwicw’s growing conditions, propagation and preservation. Report to Neskonlith Indian Band.
2022 - View publication details
Sharifi et al. 2022. Scwicw (Avalanche Lily) Ecology, Propagation, Nutritional value and Preservation. Presentation to NIB Chief and Council.
2022 - View publication details
Chris Siow, Suvira Prashar, Oscar Molina, Katherine Ward, Julie Price and Samir Debnath (2023) Lingonberry: Red Treasures from the North - A Guide to growing Lingonberries.
www.sbrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/24584-Lingonberry-book_ENG.pdf
www.sbrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/24584-Lingonberry-book_FR.pdf
www.sbrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/24584-Lingonberry-book_CREE.pdf
2022 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C. (2022). Epigenetic variation and enhanced vegetative growth in micropropagated berry crops for wide adaptability and early berry production in northern environment 13th Canadian Association for Plant Biotechnology Conference 2022, August 21-24, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada. Abstract.
2022 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C. (2022). Somaclonal variation in micropropagated berry crops - an epigenetic approach. ISHS International Horticultural Congress, Angers, France. August 14-20, 2022. Abstract, Oral Presentation.
2022 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C. and Ghosh, A. (2022). Epigenetic regulation of somatic embryogenesis in berry plants. International Horticultural Congress, Angers, France. August 14-20, 2022. Abstract; Poster Presentation.
2022 - View publication details
Berardi, N., Siow, Y.L., Molina, O., Prashar, S., Ward, K., O, K., Madduma Hewage, S., Debnath, S., and Price, J. (2022) Ag-in-Motion, Langham, SK, Canada July 19-21, 2022.
2022 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C. (2022). “Epigenetics and in vitro propagation of horticultural crop.”, 6th Edition of Global Congress on Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Virtual Event; March 24-26, 2022. https://plantbiologyconference.com/. Abstract.
2022 - View publication details
Sharma, U., Igamberdiev, A.U. and Debnath, S.C. (2021). “A comparison of three culture systems in shoot proliferation of lingonberry.”, Book of abstracts, XII International Vaccinium Symposium, August 30 - September 1, 2021 (virtual), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; p. 50. Abstract.
2021 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C., Ross, K., Siow, Y., Simms, D and Ellsworth, S. (2021). “Molecular variation, genetic structure and antioxidants in Vaccinium germplasm.”, Book of abstracts, XII International Vaccinium Symposium, August 30 - September 1, 2021 (virtual), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; p. 13. Abstract.
2021 - View publication details
Sharma, U., Igamberdiev, A.U. and Debnath, S.C. (2021). “Somatic Embryogenesis: a novel technique for mass production in vitro.”, 22nd Annual Aldrich Interdisciplinary Conference. Graduate Student Union, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, Online, Oral Presentation. August 16-25, 2021.
2021 - View publication details
Sharma, U., Igamberdiev, A.U. and Debnath, S.C. (2021). “Somatic Embryogenesis: a novel technique for mass production in vitro.”, 22nd Annual Aldrich Interdisciplinary Conference. Graduate Student Union, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, Online, Oral Presentation. August 16-25, 2021.
2021 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C. (2021). “In vitro and molecular techniques for screening, propagation and utilization of wild berry crops.”, American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, August 05 - 09, 2021, Denver, Colorado, United States. Abstract.
2021 - View publication details
Debnath, S.C. (2021). “Wild berries for northern agriculture - selection, propagation, conservation and production.”, Tri-Society Virtual Conference: Innovation in Plant Science and Agricultural Resilence, July 5-9, 2021. The Canadian Phytopathological Society, the Canadian Society of Agronomy and the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science.
2021 - View publication details
Sikdar, A., Igamberdiev, A.U. and Debnath, S.C. (2021). “Genomic methylation levels appear adverse effect on total phenolic content between in vitro and greenhouse grown lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea).”, Tri-Society Virtual Conference: Innovation in Plant Science and Agricultural Resilence, July 5-9, 2021.
2021 - View publication details
Sikdar, A., Igamberdiev, A.U. and Debnath, S.C. (2021). “DNA methylation in micropropagated lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea).”, 13th Annual Biology Graduate Student Symposium, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, April 21 and 22, 2021; p. 29.
2021 - View publication details
Sharma, U., Igamberdiev, A.U. and Debnath, S.C. (2020). “In-vitro propagation techniques in lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.).”, Proceedings of 1st Canadian Society for Horticultural Science Online Graduate Student Conference, August 27, 2020, Online, Oral Presentation. P. 44. Abstract.
2020 - View publication details