Tomato Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement Research Team
1. Introduction
Principal Investigator: Professor Yan Liang
Professor and doctoral supervisor of the College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, professional evaluation expert of a National Platform for Scientific and Technological Resources, and expert entitled to Government Special Allowance (GSA) of the State Council. Main research focuses on the regulatory mechanism of fruit quality, improvement of germplasm resources, and genetic breeding in tomatoes.
Concurrent Academic Appointment
Executive Director of the Chinese Society of Horticultural Science (tomato branch)
ChiefExpertof Protected Vegetable Industry Experts Compound of Southern Shaanxi; Member of the Shaanxi Vegetable Variety Approval Committee
Distinguished Vegetable Expert of the Shaanxi Agricultural Service Organization; Accredited Expert of the Modern Distance Education Guidance Team for Party Members and Cadres in Rural Areas of the Shaanxi Province
2. Main Research Fields & Contents
1）Collection, evaluation, and utilization of tomato germplasm resources
2）Regulatory mechanism of tomato fruit quality
3）Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Stress Tolerance in Tomatoes
4）Genetic improvement and breeding of new tomato varieties
3. Major Projects Undertaken
National Key Research and Development Program of China; National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (863 Program); National Natural Science Foundation of China; National Science and Technology Support Program from Ministry of Science and Technology of China; NationalScienceandTechnologyResearchProjectsof China; The "948" Program from Ministry of Agriculture of China; Sino-foreign CooperationProjects; The "13115" Program from Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project from Government of Shaanxi Province; Scientific and Technological Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province; The New Century Excellent Talent Support Program from the Ministry of Education of China.
4. Academic Achievements
The stress resistance, diseaseresistanceand quality identification systems were established. We obtained 500 elite tomato inbred lines (high quality, high yield, stress-resistance and disease-resistance) through screening, isolating and identifying, introduced 400 new germplasms and created 100 elite new germplasms of tomato. Furthermore, we have bred ten newtomatovarieties, including seven common tomato and three cherry tomato varieties. Besides, we got one “Science and Technology Progress Prize of Shaanxi Province (First Prize)” in the field of “Study of Stress- and Disease-Resistant Breeding Technology and New Tomato Varieties Breeding”. So far, we have awarded three items of national patents and published more than 60 academic papers including 25 SCI papers.
5. Team Members
Our team consists ofsix members. We conduct research supported by the State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and the Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture. The professors, young lecturers, and graduate students constitute the core of this innovativeresearchteam.
Dr. Haijun Gong, professor and doctoral supervisor of the College of Horticulture, member of the “New Century Excellent Talents of the Ministry of Education,"
Research Description: Plant stress biology, including physiological and molecular mechanisms of plants responses to abiotic stresses.
Dr. Xiangqiang Zhan, professor and doctoral supervisor atthe College of Horticulture,
Research Description: Stress-resistant genes identification and genetic breeding in tomato.
Dr. Jia Guo, Associate Professor at the College of Horticulture,
Research Description:Physiological and molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance intomato.
Dr. Yan Zhang, Associate Professor at the College of Horticulture,
Research Description: Improvement and regulatory mechanism of the floral organ in tomato.
Dr. Tixu Hu, Associate Professor of the College of Horticulture.
Research Description: Physiological and molecular regulation mechanisms of stress tolerance in tomato.
