Professor

Email: zhibing@mail.hzau.edu.cn

Tel: +86-18607104092

Research Interest:

My research interest focuses on molecular mechanisms of maize resistance against economically important fungal pathogens. We identify critical resistance genes and clone major resistance QTLs through reverse genetic and forward genetic approaches. By applying genetic, molecular and biochemical methods, the molecular mechanisms in regulating maize resistance against different diseases are explored.

Current research areas:

1)      Identification and cloning major resistance QTLs against Corn Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) and Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NLB);

2)      The molecular mechanisms of major maize resistance genes against GLS and NLB;

3)      Molecular mechanisms of the maize-Setosphearia turcicum interaction;

Education:  

2006-2010    Ph.D. graduate student at Purdue University

                     Major:   Botany and Plant Pathology

                     Research project: Functional analysis of Arabidopsis WRKY transcription factors in plant defense responses

2003-2005    Ph.D. graduate student at North Dakota State University

                     Major:   Plant Pathology

                     Research projects: Molecular mapping of avirulence genes of the barley net blotch fungus, Pyrenophora tere f. teres and barley resistance genes

1999-2002    M.S. graduate student at Nanjing Agricultural University, China

         Major: Molecular Plant Pathology

         M.S. thesis: Cloning a disease specific pathogenicity (dsp) gene from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xooc)

1995-1999    B.S. undergraduate student at Jiangxi Agricultural University, China

          Major: Plant Protection

Professional Experiences:

2018-Present: Bio-protocol, associate editor

Selected Publications:

1.        Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Yu, D., Peng Y., Min, H and Lai, Z. (2019) Copper ions are required for Cochliobolus heterostrophus in appressorium formation and virulence on maize. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-19-0254-R

2.        Lai, Z., Schluttenhoffer, S.M., Bhide, K., Jacob, S., Thimmapuram, J., Lee, S.Y., Yun, DJ., Mengiste T. (2014) MED18 interacts with distinct transcription factors regulates plant immunity, flowering time and responses to hormones. Nature Communications. 5: 3064. doi:10.1038/ncomms4064

3.        Lai, Z., Li, Y., Wang, F., Cheng, Y., Fan, B., Yu, J., and Chen, Z. (2011) Arabidopsis Sigma Factor-Binding Proteins are Activators of WRKY33 Transcription factor in Plant Defense. Plant Cell. 23: 3824-3841.

4.        Lai, Z., Wang, F., Zheng, Z., Fan, B., Chen, Z. (2011) A Critical Role of Autophagy in Plant Resistance to Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens. Plant Journal. 66: 953-968.