PROJECT

Omics analyses of yield and yield components for improved wheat production

Employing genetics and omics tools to enhance wheat production in dryland environments

Wheat is one of the most important crops and enhanced production has been a constant aim of wheat researchers. The recent developments in DNA/RNA sequencing technologies and accelerated generation cycling can provide new opportunities to enhance wheat production.

A number of projects are being, or will be, conducted in our lab addressing the demand for improved wheat production, while keeping high quality, through germplasm screening, genotype-phenotype association, mapping population development, QTL mapping, NIL construction, fine mapping, high-throughput molecular marker development and application, and gene identification.

For more background information, see the suggested readings below.

Suggested readings
- Onyemaobi I, Ayalew H, Liu H, Siddique KHM, Yan G (2018) Identification and validation of a major chromosome region for high grain number per spike under meiotic stage water stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) PLoS ONE 13(3): e0194075.
- Mia MS, Liu H, Wang X, Lu Z, Yan G (2017) Response of wheat to post-anthesis water stress, and the nature of gene action as revealed by combining ability analysis. Crop and Pasture Science 68 (6), 534-543.
- Yan G, Liu H, Wang H, Lu Z, Wang Y, Mullan D, Hamblin J and Liu C (2017) Accelerated Generation of Selfed Pure Line Plants for Gene Identification and Crop Breeding. Frontiers in Plant Science 8:1786.
- Onyemaobi I, Liu H, Siddique KHM, Yan G (2017). Both male and female malfunction contributes to yield reduction under water stress during meiosis in bread wheat. Frontiers in Plant Science.
- Ma J, Du GY, Li XH, Guo JK, Yan GJ (2016). A QTL on chromosome 3B in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is associated with leaf width under well-watered and water deficit conditions. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter.
- Zheng Z, Ma J, Stiller J, Zhao Q, Feng Q, Choulet F, Feuillet C, Zheng Y, Wei Y, Han B, Yan G, Manners JM, Liu C (2015). Fine mapping of a large-effect QTL conferring Fusarium crown rot resistance on the long arm of chromosome 3B in hexaploid wheat. BMC Genomics 16:850.
- Ayalew H, Ma X, Yan G (2015). Screening wheat (Triticum spp.) genotypes for root length under contrasting water regimes: potential sources of variability for drought resistance breeding. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 201(3): 189-194.
- Ma J, Stiller J, Zheng Z, Wei Y, Zheng Y, Yan G, Doležel J, Liu C (2015). Putative interchromosomal rearrangements in the hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype ‘Chinese Spring’ revealed by gene locations on homoeologous chromosomes. BMC Evolutionary Biology (2015) 15:37.
- Yang H, Li C, Lam H, Clements J, Yan G, Zhao S (2015). Sequencing consolidates molecular markers with plant breeding practice. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 128:779–795.
- Liu MJ, Zhao J, Cai QL, Liu GC, Wang JR, Zhao ZH, Liu P, Dai L, Yan G, Wang WJ, Li XS, Chen Y, Sun YD, Liu ZG, Lin MJ, Xiao J, Chen YY, Li XF, Wu B, Ma Y, Jian JB, Yang W, Yuan Z, Sun XC, Wei YL, Yu LL, Zhang C, Liao SG, He RJ, Guang XM, Wang Z, Yue-Yang Zhang YY & Luo LH (2014). The complex jujube genome provides insights into fruit tree biology. Nature Communication 5:5315.

Research team leader: Professor Guijun Yan

I obtained my PhD at The University of Auckland in New Zealand in 1996. My PhD research was on the cytogenetic and molecular studies of kiwifruit genomes. After I finished writing 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. My research extends from crop genetics to breeding using genetic and genomic tools.

PhD opportunities

Interested in becoming part of this project? Complete the following steps to submit your expression of interest:

Step 1 - Check criteria

General UWA PhD entrance requirements can be found on the Future Students website.

Requirements specific to this project include:

Experience in wheat and molecular genetics
Willingness to work as part of a team and achieve outcomes through a combination of planning, working independently, and collaborating with other team members
Excellent oral and written communication skills

Step 2 - Submit enquiry to research team leader

Given name
Family name
Email
Country

Message

Step 3 - Lodge application

After you have discussed your project with the research team leader, you should be in a position to proceed to the next step of the UWA application process: Lodge an application. Different application procedures apply to domestic and international students.

Scholarships

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PROJECT

Omics analyses of yield and yield components for improved wheat production

Employing genetics and omics tools to enhance wheat production in dryland environments

Research team leader: Professor Guijun Yan