Objectives

The research goal is to mine genes, dissect gene regulatory network and improve variety for key agronomic traits of important crops. The core subjects are grains and legumes, the efficient utilization of carbon and nitrogen. The research chain is to collecte and introduce germplasm resources, identify genetic and phenotypic diversity and explore the gene network regulating important agronomic traits, applying it to the breeding and new varieties improvement and achieving "germplasm resources-gene discovery-function analysis-variety selection".

Research Direction

1. Collection and evaluation of germplasm resources

Collect diverse germplasm resources for major food crops (rice, wheat, sorghum, legumes, etc.) and major cash crops (cotton, grapes, flowers, etc.). Use genomics technology to comprehensively interpret genome composition, and build genomic variation database and super pan-genomic database; Build a leading high-throughput plant phenotyping platform in China, and construct germplasm resource phenotypic group data.

2. Analysis of crop genetic evolution

Based on the genotype and phenotype data of germplasm resources, combined with multi-omics technology, we aim to analyze the genetic laws of crop population domestication and evolution by population genetics and quantitative genetics , to mine favorable variations and eliminate harmful variations, achieving the deeply integration of "natural evolution" and "agricultural breeding".

3. Smart design breeding of crops

Based on the genetic and molecular basis of the formation of important agronomic traits of crops（rice and wheat）, the optimal breeding scheme was designed through artificial intelligence decision-making system to achieve the optimal combination of natural variation. Molecular marker-assisted selection or genome-wide selection strategies are used to aggregate excellent alleles into excellent germplasm resources. We use Gene editing and transgenic technology to accurately improve the selected targets, finally creating new germplasm and cultivating new varieties.