Crop Functional Genomics Research

Team Name: Crop Functional Genomics Research

Research Field: Cloning and functional analysis of important trait genes in crops

Research Focus: Clone genes for important traits, such as tillering ability, nitrogen use efficiency, flowering time and storage proteins, and evaluate their potential for improvement of rice, wheat and other crops.Clone genes related to indica-japonica hybrid heterosis and characterize their function. Explore a potential role of the rice dominant semi-dwarf gene D-53 in controlling plant height of hybrid rice; clone genes involved in indica-japonica hybrid sterility.Understand molecular interaction between the bacterial blight resistance gene Xa23 and its corresponding avirulent gene. Study function of rice blast resistance and wheat powdery mildew resistance genes and develop an efficient molecular breeding system for disease resistance. Study regulatory network between genes; build up an information-sharing database; decipher molecular mechanism of gene-gene interactions from a genomic perspective in crops.

Research Objectives: Clone genes controlling agronomic traitssuch as plant type, disease resistance, wide compatibility, stress tolerance, seed quality, etc., and understand their molecularmechanisms of action. Conduct discovery research by deciphering genetic network between genes.

Team Chief Scientist: Dr. WU Chuan-yin

Education Background

Wu Chuanyin, a plant biologist and transformation genetist, received his BSc degree in Agronomy (1982) from LaiyangAgricultual College, China, his MS degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics (1982) from Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and his PhD in Crop Physiology (1992) from the University of Philippines/International Rice Research Institute, Philippines.

Research Area

He was director of Trait Genetics, Ceres, Inc.,USA. He, together with his research team, has established various efficient plant transformation protocols in 18 monocot and dicot species, including rice, corn, sorghum and energy crops. He was a research scientist at Mitsubishi Chemical and then at National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, playing a major role for the two national programs, Enhancement System of Center-of Excellence and Bio-oriented Technology Advancement Institute, Japan. He was also a principle investigator of an US$ 6.6 million project (U.S. Agency for International Development) and an US$ 5 million project (US Department of Energy).

His research areas include technology development of plant transformation, genetics of transgenic plants, functional genomics and plant molecular biology. He is interested in using molecular approaches and transformation technology, combined with plant breeding, to improve crop plants in a more efficient manner.

Selected Publications

·Wu, C.Y., Suzuki, A., Washida, H. and Takaiwa, F. (1998) The GCN4 motif in a rice glutelin gene is essential for endosperm-specific gene expression and is activated by Opaque-2 in transgenic rice. Plant J. 14, 673-683.

·Wu, C.Y., Washida, H., Onodera, Y., Harada, K. and Takaiwa, F. (2000) Quantitative nature of the Prolamin-box, ACGT and AACA motifs in a rice glutelin gene promoter: minimal cis-element requirements for endosperm-specific gene expression. Plant J. 23, 415-421.

·Wu, C.Y., Trieu, A., Radhakrishnan, P., Kwok, S.F., Harris, S., Zhang, K., Wang, J., Wan, J., Zhai, H., Takatsuto, S., Matsumoto, S., Fujioka, S., Feldmann, K.A., and Pennell,  R. (2008) Brassinosteroids Regulate Grain Filling in Rice. Plant Cell 20: 2130-2145

·Gao H, Zheng XM, Fei GL, Chen J, Jin MN, Ren YL, Wu WX, Zhou KN, Sheng PK, Zhou F, Jiang L, Wang J, Zhang X, Guo XP, Wang JL, Cheng ZJ, Wu CY, Wang HY and Wan JM. Ehd4 Encodes a Novel and Oryza-Genus-Specific Regulator of Photoperiodic Flowering in Rice. PLoS Genet, 2013, 9(2): e1003281.

·Hui Li, Ling Jiang, Ji-Hyun Youn, Wei Sun, Zhijun Cheng, Tianyun Jin, Xiaoding    Ma, XiupingGuo, Jiulin Wang, Xin Zhang, Fuqing Wu, Chuanyin Wu, Seong-Ki Kim and Jianmin Wan.  New Phytologist, Article first published online : 31 JUL 2013, DOI: 10.1111/nph.12427.

·Hui Dong, Gui-Lin Fei, Chuan-Yin Wu, Fu-Qing Wu, Yu-Ying Sun, Ming-Jiang Chen, Yu-Long Ren, Kun-Neng Zhou, Zhi-Jun Cheng, Jiu-Lin Wang, Ling Jiang, Xin Zhang, Xiu-Ping Guo, Cai-Lin Lei, Ning Su, Haiyang Wang, and Jian-Min Wan. A Rice Virescent-Yellow Leaf Mutant Reveals New Insights into the Role and Assembly of Plastid Caseinolytic Protease in Higher Plants. Plant Physiol. 2013, 162: 1867-1880.

·Zhigang Zhao, Yunhui Zhang, Xi Liu, Xin Zhang, Shichang Liu, Xiaowen Yu, YulongRen, XiaominZheng, Kunneng Zhou, Ling Jiang, XiupingGuo, Ying Gai, Chuanyin Wu, HuquZhai, Haiyang Wang, JianminWanA Role for a Dioxygenase in Auxin Metabolism and Reproductive Development in Rice (2013). Developmental Cell 27, 113-122.

·Feng Zhou, Qibing Lin, Lihong Zhu, YulongRen, Kunneng Zhou, NitzanShabek, Fuqing Wu, Haibin Mao, Wei Dong, Lu Gan, Weiwei Ma, He Gao, Jun Chen, Chao Yang, Dan Wang, Junjie Tan, Xin Zhang, XiupingGuo, Jiulin Wang, Ling Jiang, Xi Liu, Weiqi Chen, Jinfang Chu, Cunyu Yan, Kotomi Ueno, Shinsaku Ito, TadaoAsami, Zhijun Cheng, Jie Wang, Cailin Lei, HuquZhai, Chuanyin Wu, Haiyang Wang, NingZheng&Jianmin Wan. D14–SCFD3-dependent degradation of D53 regulates strigolactone signaling. Nature (2013) doi:10.1038/nature12878.

Team Members: WAN Jian-min,LI Xue-yong, CHENG Zhi-jun, LEI Cai-lin, ZhANG Xin, WU Fu-qing, WANG Jiu-lin, WANG Jie, LIN Qi-bing, WANG Yi-hua, ZhAO Jin-feng, GAO Ying, GUO Xiu-ping, WEI Fei, ZHAO Zhi-chao, ZHU Shan-shan, FANG Jing-jing, LI Chao-nan.