Crop Molecular Marker Techniques and Their Applications

Team Name: Crop Molecular Marker Techniques and Their Applications

Research Focus: identifying genome-wide genetic variation for soybean and the other crops, and clarifying the characteristics and potential functions of genetic variation; cloning genes of photoperiodic pathway as well as the other important traits, and analyzing their functions; further developing new functional molecular markers and testing technology at  DNA, protein or metabolites levels, and undertaking corresponding evaluation and utilization.

Research Objectives: to establish high-throughput molecular marker development and testing technology system; to discovery stress tolerance, disease resistance, photoperiod, phosphorus efficiency and other related trait genes and genetic variations; to develop low-cost, easy-to-operate functional molecular markers, and to provide technical support for molecular breeding.

Team Chief Scientist: Dr. QIU Li-Juan

Dr. Qiu got her bachelor and doctoral degrees at Northeast Agricultural University in 1984 and 1989 respectively.

She worked at the Institute of Crop Germplasm Resources and the Institute of Crop Sciences, CAAS since 1989, and has been engaged in the research on soybean genetic diversity and gene discovery and utilization. She (1) organizes the collection, preservation, and identification of soybean germplasm resources and provides access to utilization, compiles Catalogues of Chinese Soybean Germplasm Resources: Continuation, Soybean Varieties (1995-2004), Soybean Resource Description Specifications and Data Standards, and Soybean Varieties Fingerprint, (2) constructs widely used soybean core collection, mini core collection and applied core collection and illustrates the genetic diversity on genomic levels by whole-genome re-sequencing and de novo sequencing of representative wild soybeans, (3)  has mapped or cloned the genes/QTL related to important soybean traits and developed markers for genotyping germplasm and molecular breeding; (4) developing elite lines or varieties such as Zhonghuang 56 and Zhonghuang 57, etc.

Dr. Qiu is currently a member of the International Soybean Genetics Committee and deputy chairman of China Soybean Specialized Committee. She once served as a member of World Soybean Research Committee and the chairman of International Soybean Genome Coordination Committee. She was honored as “National Outstanding Agricultural Research Talent” by MOA, young expert with outstanding contributions and “Female Pacesetter”. She won 8 national, ministerial and provincial awards, obtained 4 patents of genes or technologies, 2 rights to protection of new varieties, and published over 30 SCI papers on PNAS, New Phytologist and PMB etc. Dr. Qiu has supervised 4 postdoctoral students and more than 80 postgraduates, and the doctoral dissertation of one of her students was selected as the outstanding doctoral dissertation of CAAS and Beijing.

Her team is awarded “Able Women Post” by CAAS and honored as the National Agricultural Research and Innovation Team.

Team Members: LI Ying-hui, PAN Ying-hong, FU Yong-fu, GUAN Rong-xia, WANG Xiao-bo, ZHANG Xiao-mei, GUO Yong, LIU Zhang-xiong, REN Yu-long, WANG Jun, GUO Bin-fu.