
Zhongfu Ni, Professor
College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University
No. 2 West YuanMingYuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing China, 100193
Phone: 86-10-62734421
Email: nizf@cau.edu.cn
Website: http://wheat.cau.edu.cn/faculty/NiZF.html
Research Area: Wheat Molecular Genetics and Breeding
Wheat is one of the most important food crops worldwide, providing approximately 20% of the calories for human. Plant height, grain shape, heading date and spike morphology are crucial agronomical traits that, to a great extent, influence wheat grain yield potential. Our laboratory mainly focuses on the identification and dissection of important quantitative trait loci (QTL) or genes in controlling multiple agronomical traits, with particular interest on grain size, spike morphology and plant height, and further understanding of the genetic interactions, related signaling transduction networks and utilization potentials of these QTL/genes.
In the past ten years, we have made significant efforts on the collection of wheat germplasm, construction of genetic mapping population and generation of EMS mutant libraries. By using these materials, multiple important QTL/genes in controlling plant height, grain shape, heading date and spike morphology have been successfully isolated and functionally analyzed. For instance, we are currently challenged to uncover the precise molecular function of Tasg-D1, the newly cloned “subspecies-forming” gene conferring semispherical grains in Triticum sphaerococcum Perc., and also screen the novel genetic cofactors of Tasg-D1 in integrating brassinosteroids (BR) with other signaling pathways in modulating grain shape and/or size in wheat, predominantly through large-scale mutational analysis followed by the map-based gene cloning. Our long-term objective is to identify and incorporate agronomically useful genetic diversity of these QTL/genes to facilitate the genetic improvement of wheat varieties with high and stable yield potential.
Besides functional dissection of wheat genes, we also perform wheat breeding by combining traditional strategies with modern molecular approaches including marker-assisted selection, transgenic technology and precise genome engineering to develop wheat varieties with desirable characteristics, such as high yield potential, high quality, stress tolerance and disease resistance. To achieve such goal, we are exploring the contract farming model for the production of high-quality tailored wheat flour based on whole industrial chain operation strategy, i.e. from “market needs” to “wheat varieties in demand” and to “end products”, in collaboration with agribusiness companies.
KEY PUBLICATIONS (*contributed equally; #author for correspondence)
4. Chen Z, Cheng X, Chai L, Wang Z, Bian R, Li J, Zhao A, Xin M, Guo W, Hu Z, Peng H, Yao Y, Sun Q, Ni Z#. (2019). Dissection of genetic factors underlying grain size and fine mapping of QTgw.cau-7D in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Theor Appl Genet 133: 1-14.