Junli Zhang, Ph.D., is a new Texas A&M AgriLife Research small grain geneticist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
Junli Zhang, Ph.D., is a new Texas A&M AgriLife Research small grain geneticist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo and assistant professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. (Kay Ledbetter/Texas A&M AgriLife)
Zhang began his new position on Sept. 1, but he said he’s been building the foundation to take this new position since graduate school. He brings a strong background in genetics, genomics and bioinformatics.
Prior to arriving in Amarillo, he served as an assistant project scientist in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis. He earned his doctorate from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, where he developed a strong background in wheat genetics and breeding.
He has been using advanced quantitative genetic methods to find useful genetic materials and gene loci for wheat breeding. His concentration was on the drought tolerance, water-use efficiency and yield components of wheat, all things he will continue to focus on as a researcher in Amarillo.
Introducing new germplasm
Zhang said he will utilize some of the germplasm he previously worked with, along with his skills in plant breeding, field experimental design and management, and marker-assisted selection to help introduce new traits into Texas material and improve biotic resistance and overall quality.
“In recent years, a lot of these genes and pathways have been discovered in various plant growth pathways in model plants like Arabidopsis and rice, and I want to apply that knowledge here to hopefully help improve breeding efficiency and enhance traits such as grain size and nitrogen efficiency.”
Increasing biomass and nitrogen-use efficiency in the droughty environments of Texas is one of Zhang’s goals. Increased biomass can improve yields in dryland wheat and forage production, particularly when wheat serves as a dual-purpose crop.
“I also want to improve the health value of wheat, not just work on higher yields, but higher nutrient content and fiber to improve wheat’s value as a stable food,” he said.
Zhang said he will also be exploring the germplasm bank to genetically address one of wheat’s biggest diseases in this region – wheat streak mosaic, transmitted by the wheat curl mite. Some resistance has been built up to these abiotic stresses; however, new sources of resistance are needed, because it is expected that someday the current resistance genes will be overcome and “we need to get ready.”
“We know there are many resources out there, but what works in this region with the different wheat challenges is the question,” he said. “My goal is to determine what can help producers improve their wheat crop through the field of genetics.”
