The University of Western Australia

Assoc/Prof Guijun Yan

Associate Professor
School of Plant Biology

Contact details

Address

School of Plant Biology
The University of Western Australia (M084)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 1240

Fax

6488 1108

Email

guijun.yan@uwa.edu.au

Location

Room 1127, Agriculture Central Wing Building, Crawley campus

Qualifications

MSc HebeiAgric., PhD Auck.

Biography

I grew up in one of the most remote country areas in Mainland China in the 1960s. After the Cultural Revolution, I had a chance to take the first entrance examination to the Universities, and I was one of the 200,000 lucky ones out of the 10,000,000 candidates. I started my undergraduate study at the age of 21, majored in agriculture with the aim of improving the living of the billions of peasants (farmers) in rural China.
I completed my undergraduate study in Horticulture in early 1982 and my MSc in Horticulture in 1984. I started my interest in genetics during my MSc study and my thesis was on cytogenetics and taxonomy of Chinese date (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.).
After my graduation, the University where I studied (Hebei Agricultural University) immediately employed me as a Lecturer to teach pomology and to do research on the domestication and breeding of Chinese date. I was also interested in the genetics and breeding of walnuts, apples and other vegetatively propagated perennials.
From early 1992 to mid 1996, I worked and studied for my PhD between HortResearch (formerly DSIR) and The University of Auckland in New Zealand. During those five years, my research was concentrated on kiwifruit breeding and genetics. My PhD supervisors were Associate Professor Brian Murray, Dr. Ross Ferguson and Dr. Mark McNeilage. My PhD research on the cytogenetic and molecular studies of kiwifruit genomes has led to six papers , in international prestigious journals.
As soon as I finished writing up my thesis, I was offered an academic position at the University of Western Australia, and two days after capping on 9th September, 1996, I commenced my present work at the University of Western Australia.

Key research

•Genetics and Plant Breeding

•Molecular phylogenetics

•Cytogenetics

•Molecular genetics

Publications

1.Shan F, Yan G and Plummer JA (2003) Meiotic chromosome behaviour and Boronia (Rutaceae) genome reorganisation. Australian Journal of Botany 51: 599-607.
2.Shan F, Yan G and Plummer JA (2003) Cyto-evolution of Boronia genomes revealed by fluorescent in situ hybridisation with rDNA probes. Genome 46: 507-513.
3.Plummer JA, Shan F, Galwey N and Yan G (2003) New methods for comparison of chromosomes within and between species. Caryologia 56: 223-227.
4.Shepherd KA and Yan G (2003) Chromosome number and size variations in the Australian Salicornioideae (Chenopodiaceae) – evidence of polyploidisation. Australian Journal of Botany 51: 441-452.
5.Pradhan A, Yan G and Plummer JA (2004) Development of DNA fingerprinting keys for the identification of radish cultivars. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44: 95-102.
6.Ma X, Considine JA and Yan G (2004) Chloroplast DNA variation and inheritance in waxflowers (Myrtaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 52: 55-61.
7.Astarini IA, Plummer JA, Lancaster RA and Yan G (2004) Fingerprinting of cauliflower cultivars using RAPD markers. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55: 117-124.
8.Pharmawati M, Yan G and McFarlane IJ (2004) Application of RAPD and ISSR markers to analyse molecular relationships in Grevillea (Proteaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 17: 49-61.
9.Pharmawati M, Yan G, Sedgley R and Finnegan PM (2004) Chloroplast DNA inheritance and variation in Leucadendron spp. (Proteaceae) as revealed by PCR-RFLP. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 109: 1694-1701.
10.Pradhan A, Yan G and Plummer JA (2004) Correlation of morphological traits with molecular markers in radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44: 813-819.
11.Shan F, Clarke H, Yan G, Plummer JA and KHM Siddique (2004) Development of DNA fingerprinting keys for discrimination of Cicer echinospermum (P.H. Davis) accessions using AFLP markers. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55: 947-952.
12.Pharmawati M, Yan G and Finnegan PM (2005) Molecular variation and fingerprinting of Leucadendron cultivars (Proteaceae) by ISSR markers. Annals of Botany 95: 1163-1170.
13.Shan F, Clarke H, Plummer J, Yan G and Siddique K (2005) Geographical patterns of genetic variation in the world collections of wild annual Cicer characterized by amplified fragment length polymorphisms. Theoretical & Applied Genetics 110:381-391.
14.Zhang Q, Tan S, McKay A and Yan G (2005) Carrot browning on simulated market shelf and during cold storage. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 85: 16-20.
15.Yuan H, Yan G, Siddique KHM and Yang H (2005) RAMP based fingerprinting and assessment of relationships among Australian narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) cultivars. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56:1339-1346.
16.Astarini IA, Plummer JA, Lancaster RA and Yan G (2006) Genetic diversity of Indonesian cauliflower cultivars and their relationship with hybrid cultivars grown in Australia. Scientia Horticulturae 108: 143-150.
17.Danehloueipour N, Yan G, Clarke H, Siddique KHM (2006) Successful stem cutting propagation of chickpea, its wild relatives and their interspecific hybrids. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46: 1349-1354.
18.George N, Byrne M, Maslin B, and Yan G (2006) Genetic differentiation among morphological variants of Acacia saligna (Mimosaceae). Tree Genetics and Genomes 2:109-119.
19.Liu H, Yan G and Sedgley R (2006) Interspecific hybridization in the genus Leucadendron through embryo rescue. South African Journal of Botany 72:416-420.
20.Liu H, Yan G, Shan F and Sedgley R (2006) Karyotypes in Leucadendron (Proteaceae): evidence of the primitiveness of the genus. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 151:387-394.
21.Shan F, Yan G and Plummer JA (2006) Basic chromosome number in Boronia (Rutaceae) – competing hypothesis examined. Australian Journal of Botany 54: 681-689.
22.Danehloueipour N, Yan G, Clarke HJ, Siddique KHM (2007) Diallel analyses reveal the genetic control of resistance to ascochyta blight in diverse chickpea and wild Cicer species, Euphytica, 154: 195-205.
23.Shan F, Clarke H, Yan G, Plummer JA and Siddique KHM (2007) Identification of duplicates and fingerprinting of primary and secondary wild annual Cicer gene pools using AFLP markers. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 54: 519-527.
24.George N, Henry D, Yan G and Byrne M (2007) Variability in feed quality between populations of Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. (Mimosoideae) – implications for domestication. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 136: 109-127.
25.Liu X, Dong M, Chen X and Yan G (2007) Antioxidant activity of an endophytic Xylaria sp. from Ginkgo biloba. Food Chemistry 105: 548-554
26.Liu H, Yan G, Finnegan P and Sedgley R (2007) Development of DNA markers for hybrid identification in Leucadendron (Proteaceae). Scientia Horticulturae 113: 376-382
27.Wu H, Zheng S, He Y, Yan G, Bi Y, Zhu Y (2007) Diploid female gametes induced by colchicine in Oriental lilies. Scientia Horticulturae 114: 50-53
28.Astarini IA, Plummer JA, Lancaster RA and Yan G (2007) Correlation of important seedling traits in cauliflower varieties and potential association with RAPD markers. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58: 1183-1190.
29.Astarini IA, Plummer JA, Lancaster RA and Yan G (2008) Identification of ‘Sib’ plants in hybrid cauliflowers using microsatellite markers. Euphytica 164: 309-316.
30.Danehloueipour, N., Clarke, H., Yan, G., Khan, T., and Siddique, K. (2008). Leaf type is not associated with ascochyta blight disease in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Euphytica 162: 281-289.
31.Byrne OM, Hardie DC, Khan TN, Speijers J and G Yan (2008) Genetic analysis of pod and seed resistance to pea weevil in a Pisum sativum x P. fulvum interspecific cross. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59: 854-862
32.George N, Byrne M and Yan G (2008) Mixed mating with preferential outcrossing in Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae). Silvae Genetica 57: 139-145.
33.Cui L, Dong M, Chen X, Jiang Mei, Lv X and Yan G (2008) A novel fibrinolytic enzyme from Cordyceps militaris, a Chinese traditional medicinal mushroom. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 24:483-489.
34.Lin R, Yang H, Khan TN, Siddique KHM, Yan G (2008) Characterisation of genetic diversity and DNA fingerprinting of Australian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars using MFLP markers. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59: 707-713.
35.Schelfhout CJ, Wroth JM, Yan G, and Cowling WA (2008) Enhancement of genetic diversity in canola-quality Brassica napus and B. juncea by interspecific hybridization. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59: 918-925
36.Borger CPD, Yan G, Scott JK, Walsh MJ, Powles SB (2008) Salsola tragus or S. anstralis (Chenopodiaceae) in Australia – untangling taxonomic confusion through molecular and cytological analyses. Australian Journal of Botany 56: 600-608.
37.Zhang Q, Yan G, Dai H, Zhang X, Li C, Zhang Z (2008) Characterisation of Tomentosa cherry (Prunus tomentose Thunb.) genotypes using SSR markers and morphological traits. Scientia Horticulturae 118: 39-47.
38.Nelson MN, Mason AS, Castello M, Thomson L, Yan G, and Cowling WA (2009) Microspore culture preferentially selects unreduced (2n) gametes from an interspecific hybrid of Brassica napus L. x Brassica carinata Braun. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 119:497-505.
39.Lin R, Renshaw D, Luckett D, Clements J, Yan G, Adhikari K, Buirchell B, Sweetingham M, Yang H (2009) Development of a sequence-specific PCR marker linked to the gene “pauper” conferring low alkaloids in white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) for marker assisted selection. Molecular Breeding 23: 153-161.
40.Lu Y, Rahman N, Chen X, Jiang M, Xin L, Dong M, Yan G (2009) Biogenic amines in Chinese soy sauce. Food control 20: 593-597.
41.Gong X, Westcott S, Li C, Yan G, Lance R, Sun D (2009) Comparative analysis of genetic diversity between Qinghai-Tibetan wild and Chinese landrace barley. Genome 52: 849-861.
42.Pharmawati, M., Yan, G., Finnegan, P.M. (2009) Chloroplast DNA Copy Number May Link to Sex Determination in Leucadendron (Protoeaceae). HAYATI, Journal of Biosciences 16: 21-24.
43.George, N.A., Byrne, M., Yan, G. (2009) Observations of the reproductive biology of Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L. Wendl. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 92: 5-14.
44.Fang X, Turner NC, Yan G, Li F, Siddique KHM (2010) Flower and pod production, pollen viability, and pistil function are reduced and flower and pod abortion increased in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under terminal drought. Journal of Experimental Botany 61: 335-345.
45.Yang H, Lin R, Renshaw D, Li C Adhikari K, Thomas G, Buirchell B, Sweetingham M, Yan G (2010) Development of sequence-specific PCR markers associated with a polygenic controlled trait for marker-assisted selection using a modified selective genotyping strategy: a case study on anthracnose disease resistance in white lupin (Lupinus albus L.). Molecular Breeding 25: 239-249.
46.Ma J, Li H, Zhang C, Yang Y, Liu Y, Yan G, Liu C (2010) Identification and validation of a major QTL conferring crown rot resistance in hexaploid wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (on line).
47.Guo ZB, Yan G, Bai E, Li FM, Zeng ZX (2010) Biennial legume species improved soil quality in the semiarid Loess Plateau. Soil Sciences (accepted).

Roles, responsibilities and expertise

Plant genetics and breeding
Molecular genetics
Cytogenetics
Biostatistics

Coordinator - STAT2210

Deputy Leader, Plant Production Systems Program, Institute of Agriculture

Chair, Ornamental Genetic Resources Working Group, International Society for Horticultural Science

Future research

Plant genetics and breeding

Funding received

RIRDC-Leucadendron breeding
FANS-Breeding bush tomatoes
RIRDC-breeding waxflowers
ARC-breeding field pea
Salinity CRC-Genetics and breeding of Acacia saligna
Ausaid-Molecular genetics of Leucadendron
Ausaid-Cauliflower genetics and production
ARC-Breeding Grevillea and Hakea
ACC-wheat breeding
DIISR-barley and Brassica breeding
GRDC-barley breeding

Industrial relevance

Agriculture, Horticulture, Natural Resource Management

Languages

English, Chinese-Mandarin

Memberships

Committee member-ISHS, WA Chinese Scientists’ Association, Federation of Chinese Scholars in Australia

Honours and awards

Department of Education, P.R.China Sunshine Travel Award, RIRDC Travel award,FNAS teaching award (2007)

Previous positions

Sept. 1996 to Sept. 2001 - Research Fellow. Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia.
Dec.1991 to Feb. 1993 - Visiting Scientist. HortResearch, Mt. Albert Research Centre, Auckland. (Formerly DSIR, Fruit and Trees).
Mar. 1985 to Nov. 1991 - Lecturer-Research/Teaching. Department of Horticulture, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding, China.

Patents

PBR – Pixy Red, Ruby Red, Claire's Beauty

Teaching

Introduction to Genetics 240
Plant/Animal Genetics and Breeding 3xx
Biometrics 210

I have been involved in coordinating and teaching Introduction to Genetics and Biometrics to second year, Plant and Animal Breeding to third year and Plant Breeding Methodology to fourth year students. I also coordinated 4th year horticulture research projects, Horticultural Science 401 and Work (Farm) Experience for undergraduates of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Sciences and Natural Resource Management. I also enjoy supervising Honours, Masters and PhD projects.

Current external positions

Adjunct Professor of a number of leading universities in China including Lanzhou University, Guangzhou University, Tibet University, etc.

New and noteworthy

My research using combined molecular genetics and cytogenetics has been an extremely useful tool to understand plant genome interactions, plant evolution and conservation

Current projects

Waxflower genetics and breeding
Leucadendron genetics and breeding
Acacia saligna genetics and breeding
Chickpea genetics and breeding
Bush tomato genetics and breeding
Field pea genetics and breeding
Cauliflower genetics and production
Brassica genetics and breeding
Barley genetics and breeding
Wheat genetics and breeding

Research profile

Research profile and publications