Genetic Transformation Lab
Research
The research in Dr. Zeng-yu Wang's laboratory currently focuses on developing reliable plant regeneration and genetic transformation systems for different cool season forage grasses and cloning important agronomic genes. The aim of our tissue culture and transformation program in the Forage Improvement Division is to generate novel plant material by direct introduction of agronomical genes into important forage crops, and thus to assist or complement the forage breeding program.
The main aspects of the tissue culture and transformation program include: establishment of efficient plant regeneration and genetic transformation systems for different forage species; cloning of potentially useful agronomical genes and promoters; and generation and characterization of transgenic forage plants with improved agronomic characteristics. The cool-season forage grasses we are currently working on are tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea) and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum). It is known that these outcrossing monocot forage species are among the most recalcitrant plants to genetically manipulate in vitro. We are also using the available genomics information of Medicago truncatula to identify genes for improvement of the important forage legume alfalfa.
Personnel
Hisano, H., Nandakumar, R., & Wang, Z - Y. (2009). Genetic modification of lignin biosynthesis for improved biofuel production. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology, 45, 306–313, DOI:10.1007/s11627-009-9219-5.
Jiang, Q., Zhang, J., Guo, X., Monteros, M. J., & Wang, Z - Y. (2009). Physiological characterization of transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plants for improved drought tolerance. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 170 (8), 969-978 doi: 10.1086/600138.
Wang, Z - Y., Ge, Y. X., & Hopkins, A. A. (2009). Registration of NFLT12, a tissue culture–responsive Lolium temulentum (Darnel ryegrass) line. Journal of Plant Registrations, 3 (2), 206-207.
Ma, X-F., Wright, E., Ge, Y. X., Bell, J., Xi, Y., Bouton, J. H., & Wang, Z. Y. (2009). Improving phosphorus acquisition of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) by transgenic expression of plant-derived phytase and acid phosphatase genes. Plant Science, 176 (4), 479-488, DOI:10.1016/j.plantsci.2009.01.001.
Mian, M. A. , Zhang, Y., Wang, Z - Y., Zhang, J - Y., Cheng, X., Chen, L., Chekhovskiy, K., Dai, X., Mao, C-H., Cheung, F., Zhao, X., He, J., Scott, A. D., Town, C. D., & May, G. D. (2008). Analysis of tall fescue ESTs representing different abiotic stresses, tissue types and developmental stages. Plant Biology, 8 (27), DOI:10.1186/1471-2229-8-27.
Search PubMed- Development of Genetic Transformation Systems for Forage Grasses
- Genetic Manipulation of Lignin Biosynthesis in Forage Grasses
- Improvement of Drought Tolerance in Forage Legumes and Grasses
- Genetic Modification of Phosphate Uptake in Forage Legume and Grasses
- Genetic Manipulation of Flowering in Forage Grasses
- Development of Efficient Transformation System for Medicago truncatula
- Genetic Manipulation of Tannin Biosynthesis in Forage Legumes