Wheat Parental Creation and New Variety Development

Team Name: Wheat Parental Creation and New Variety Development

Research Focus:Development and validation of gene specific makers by comparative genomic approach on quality traits as well as diseases resistance and yield potential;Development of high yielding varieties with acceptable noodle and steamed bread qualities, and elite parental germplasm by integration of conventional breeding and application of molecular markers in the Yellow and Huai Valleys as well as Northern China Plain.

Objectives:Establish an internationally recognized wheat breeding program targeting variety development, molecular marker development and application, postgraduate training, and international collaboration.

Team Chief Scientist: Dr. He Zhonghu

Education Background

Wheat breeder by training, received BSc and PhD degrees in Agronomy in 1984 and in 1989 respectively from the China Agricultural University.

Research Area

He is the leader of CAAS-CIMMYT joint wheat program, and director of the National Wheat Improvement Center.

He has established an integrated wheat improvement program including conventional breeding at three sites, quality testing, disease screening, molecular marker development and application, and training. He developed a standardized quality testing protocols for Chinese steamed bread and noodles, development and validation of 42 gene specific markers, and release of 14 wheat varieties with three being leading varieties in northern China Plain. He is the director from Chinese side, for MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology)-USDA-ARS Joint Wheat Quality and Disease Resistance Laboratory and China-Australia Joint Center for Wheat Improvement. He trained over 50 postgraduates and organized 15 national and international conferences.

Publications

He Zhonghu et al, 2001. A History of Wheat Breeding in China, CIMMYT, Mexico.

He Zhonghu and Alain Bonjeans, 2012. Cereals in China, CIMMYT, Mexico.

As co-author, published more than 300 scientific publications in peer-reviewed international and Chinese journals.

Academic membership

Fellow, Crop Science Society of America, 2009

Fellow, American Society of Agronomy, 2013

Member, American Association of Cereal Chemistry

Awards

First Class Award in Science and Technology Progress, Chinese State Council, 2008

First Class Award in Science and Technology, Beijing Municipal Government, 2011

Team Members: Xia Xianchun, Chen Xinmin, Zhang Yong, Zhang Yan, Wang Dese