Zhixi Tian

Ph.D. 2007   Genetics. Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS, Beijing

M.S.  2000   Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding

B.S.  1997   Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding

 

2011/5-    Principle investigator, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS, China

2010/9 - 2011/4       Research Geneticist, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University

2007/9 - 2010/8       Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University

2001/3 - 2001/11     Invited Assistant Specialist, National Natural Science Foundation of China

2000/8 - 2003/8       Assistant Professor/Lecture, Agricultural University of Hebei

 

2021   "Tan Jiazhen Life Science Innovation Award" - Tan Jiazhen Life Science Award Committee, China Associate of Science and Technology

2017    "Ten thousand plan" - National high level talents special support plan, the Organization Department of the Central Committ

2016    Youth Science and Technology Innovation Leader, Ministry of Science and Technology

2016    The 14^th China Youth Science and Technology Award, China Associate of Science and Technology

2015    The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, the National Natural Science Foundation of China

2012    The National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars, the National Natural Science Foundation of China

2012    Youth Science of the Stars, Science Times Media Group of China

2011    The Young Talented Investigator Award, Chinese Academy of Sciences

 

 

Soybean (Glycine max [L]. Merr.) is one of the most economically important leguminous seed crops that provide the majority of plant proteins, and more than a quarter of the world’s food and animal feed. It is suggested that soybean was domesticated from its annual wild relative, G. soja Sieb & Zucc, in China approximately 5,000 years ago, resulting in a multitude of soybean landraces that were adapted to various climate environments. A better understanding of soybean genetics and genomics will advance breeding varieties with improved yield, quality, and stress tolerance. We will combine association mapping, QTL mapping, map-based cloning along with comparative genomic approach, as well as construction and utilization of mutant database to identify genes controlling important agronomical traits and to apply them into the soybean breeding, which will facilitate soybean germplasm enhancement and benefit soybean production.

 

 

 

3.Wang C, Ji W, Liu Y, Zhou P, Meng Y, Zhang P, Wen J, Mysore K, Zhai J, Young N, Tian Z, Niu L, Lin H**. 2021. The antagonistic MYB paralogs RH1 and RH2 govern anthocyanin leaf markings in Medicago truncatula. New Phytol 229: 3330-3344.

 

4.Liu Q, Jiao X, Meng X, Wang C, Xu C, Tian Z, Xie C, Li G, Li J, Yu H, Wang K**. 2021. FED: a web tool for foreign element detection of genome-edited organism. Sci China Life Sci 64: 167-170.

 

5.Li X, Wang P, Zhang K, Liu S, Qi Z, Fang Y, Wang Y, Tian X, Song J, Wang J, Yang C, Sun X, Tian Z, Li W, Ning H. 2021. Fine mapping QTL and mining genes for protein content in soybean by the combination of linkage and association analysis. Theor Appl Genet. 134: 1095-1122.

 

6.Liu Y*, Du H*, Li P, Shen Y, Peng H, Liu S, Zhou G, Zhang H, Liu Z, Shi M, Huang X, Li Y, Zhang M, Wang Z, Zhu B, Han B, Liang C**, and Tian Z**. 2020. Pan-genome of wild and cultivated soybeans. Cell 182: 162-176.

 

 

8.Liu S, Fan L, Liu Z, Yang X, Zhang Z, Duan Z, Liang Q, Imran M, Zhang M, and Tian Z**. 2020. A Pd1-Ps-P1 feedback loop controls pubescence density in soybean. Mol Plant 13: 1768-1783.

 

9.Liu S, Zhang M, Feng F, and Tian Z**. 2020. Toward a “green revolution” for soybean. Mol Plant 13: 688-697.

 

10.Lu S*, Dong L*, Fang C*, Liu S*, Kong L*, Cheng Q*, Chen L*, Su T, Nan H, Zhang D, Zhang L, Wang Z, Yang Y, Yu D, Liu X, Yang Q, Lin X, Tang Y, Zhao X, Yang X, Tian C, Xie Q, Li X, Yuan X**, Tian Z**, Liu B**, Weller J.L**, and Kong F**. 2020. Stepwise selection on homeologous PRR genes controlling flowering and maturity during soybean domestication. Nat Genet 52: 428-436.

 

11.Dong X*, Wang Z*, Tian L, Zhang Y, Qi D, Huo H, Xu Ji, Li Z, Liao R, Shi M, Wahocho S-A, Liu C, Zhang S, Tian Z**, and Cao Y**. 2020. De novo assembly of a wild pear (Pyrus betuleafolia) genome. Plant Biotechnol J 18: 581-595.

 

12.Zhu X, Pan Y, Liu Z, Liu Y, Zhong D, Duan Z, Tian Z, Zhu B**, and Zhou G**. 2020. Mutation of YL results in a yellow leaf with chloroplast RNA editing defect in soybean. Int J Mol Sci 21: E4275.

 

13.Tian X*, Zhang K*, Liu S, Sun X, Li X, Song J, Qi Z, Wang Y, Fang Y, Wang J, Jiang S, Yang C, Tian Z, Li W**, and Ning H**. 2020. Quantitative trait locus analysis of protein and oil content in response to planting density in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merri.) seeds based on SNP linkage mapping. Front Genet 11: 563.

 

14.Qi Z, Song J, Zhang K, Liu S, Tian X, Wang Y, Fang Y, Li X, Wang J, Yang C, Jiang S, Sun X, Tian Z, Li WX, Ning H**. 2020. Identification of QTNs controlling 100-seed weight in soybean using multi-locus genome-wide association studies. Front Genet 11: 689

 

15.Fang Y, Liu S, Dong Q, Zhang K, Tian Z, Li X, Li W, Qi Z, Wang Y, Tian X, Song J, Wang J, Yang C, Jiang S, Li W**, and Ning H**. 2020. Linkage analysis and multi-locus genome-wide association studies identify QTNs controlling soybean plant height. Front Plant Sci 11: 9.

 

16.Shen Y*, Du H*, Liu Y, Ni L, Wang Z, Liang C**, and Tian Z**. 2019. Update soybean Zhonghuang 13 genome to a golden reference. Sci China Life Sci 62: 1257-1260.

 

17.Chen E, Huang X, Tian Z, Wing RA, and Han B. 2019. The genomics of Oryza species provides insights into rice domestication and heterosis. Annu Rev Plant Biol 70: 639-665.

 

18.Liu W*, Chen L*, Zhang S*, Hu F, Wang Z, Lyu J, Wang B, Xiang H, Zhao R, Tian Z**, Ge S**, and Wang W**. 2019. Decrease of gene expression diversity during domestication of animals and plants. BMC Evol Biol 19: 19.

 

19.Zhang K*, Liu S*, Li W, Liu S, Li X, Fang Y, Zhang J, Wang Y, Xu S, Zhang J, Song J, Qi Z, Tian X, Tian Z, Li W**, and Ning H**. 2018. Identification of QTNs controlling seed protein content in soybean using multi-locus genome-wide association studies. Front Plant Sci 9: 1690.

 

20.Wang M*, Li W*, Fang C*, Xu F*, Liu Y*, Wang Z, Yang R, Zhang M, Liu S, Lu S, Lin T, Tang J, Wang Y, Wang H, Lin H, Zhu B, Chen M, Kong F, Liu B, Zeng D, Jackson S**, Chu C**, and Tian Z**. 2018. Parallel selection on a dormancy gene during domestication of crops from multiple families. Nat Genet 50: 1435-1441.

 

21.Shen Y, Zhang J, Liu Y, Liu S, Liu Z, Duan Z, Wang Z, Zhu B, Guo Y, and Tian Z**. 2018. DNA methylation footprints during soybean domestication and improvement. Genome Biol 19: 128.

 

22.Shen Y, Liu J, Geng H, Zhang J, Liu Y, Zhang H, Xing S, Du J**, Ma S**, and Tian Z**. 2018. De novo assembly of a Chinese soybean genome. Sci China Life Sci 61: 871-884.

 

23.Xu R*, Duan P, Yu H, Zhou Z, Zhang B, Wang R, Li J, Zhang G, Zhuang S, Lyu J, Li N, Chai T, Tian Z, Yao S, and Li Y**. 2018. Control of grain size and weight by the OsMKKK10-OsMKK4-OsMAPK6 signaling pathway in rice. Mol Plant 11: 860-873.

 

24.Zhang D*, Sun L*, Li S*, Wang W*, Ding Y, Swarm S, Li L, Wang X, Tang X, Zhang Z, Tian Z, J. Brown P, Cai C, Nelson R, and Ma J**. 2018. Elevation of soybean seed oil content through selection for seed coat shininess. Nat Plants 4: 30-35.

 

25.Fang C*, Ma Y*, Wu S*, Liu Z, Wang Z, Yang R, Hu G, Zhou Z, Yu H, Zhang M, Pan Y, Zhou G, Ren H, Du W, Yan H, Wang Y, Han D, Shen Y, Liu S, Liu T, Zhang J, Qin H, Yuan J, Yuan X, Kong F, Liu B, Li J, Zhang Z**, Wang G**, Zhu B**, and Tian Z**. 2017. Genome-wide association studies dissect the genetic networks underlying agronomical traits in soybean. Genome Biol 18: 161.

 

26.Lu S*, Zhao X*, Hu Y, * Liu S*, Nan H*, Li X, Fang C, Cao D, Shi X, Kong L, Su T, Zhang F, Li S, Wang Z, Yuan X,. Cober E, Weller J, Liu B**, Hou X**, Tian Z**, and Kong F**. 2017. Natural variation at the soybean J locus improves adaptation to the tropics and enhances yield. Nat Genet 49: 773-779.

 

27.Zeng D*, Tian Z*, Rao Y, Dong G, Yang Y, Huang L, Leng Y, Xu J, Sun C, Zhang G, Hu J, Zhu L, Gao Z, Hu X, Guo L, Xiong G, Wang Y, Li J**, and Qian Q**. 2017. Rational design of high-yield and superior-quality rice. Nat Plants 3: 17031.

 

28.Zou Y*, Hou X*, Wu Q, Chen J, Li Z, Han T, Niu X, Yang L, Xu Y, Zhang J, Zhang F, Tan D, Tian Z, Gu H, and Guo Y**. 2017. Adaptation of Arabidopsis thaliana to the Yangtze River basin. Genome Biol 18: 239.

 

29.Chu S*, Wang J*, Zhu Y*, Liu S, Zhou X, Zhang H, Wang C, Yang W, Tian Z, Cheng H, and Yu D**. 2017. A R2R3-type MYB transcription factor GmMYB29 regulates iso？avonoid biosynthesis in soybean. PLoS Genet 13: e1006770.

 

30.Cao K*, Zhou Z*, Wang Q, Guo J, Zhao P, Zhu G, Fang W, Chen C, Wang X, Wang X, Tian Z**, and Wang L**. 2016. Genome-wide association study of 12 agronomic traits in peach. Nat Commun 7:13246.

 

31.Li Q, Fang C, Duan Z, Liu Y, Qin H, Zhang J, Sun P, Li W, Wang G, and Tian Z**. 2016. Functional conservation and divergence of GmCHLI genes in polyploid soybean. Plant J 88: 584-596.

 

32.Takeshima R, Hayashi T, Zhu J, Zhao C, Xu M, Yamaguchi N, Sayama T, Ishimoto M, Kong L, Shi X, Liu B, Tian Z, Yamada T, Kong F**, and Abe J**. 2016. A soybean quantitative trait locus that promotes flowering under long days is identified as FT5a, a FLOWERING LOCUS T ortholog. J Exp Bot 67: 5247-5258.

 

33.Fang C, Ma Y, Yuan L, Wang Z, Yang Y, Zhou Z, Liu T, and Tian Z**. 2016. Chloroplasts DNA underwent independent selection from nuclear genes during soybean domestication and improvement. J Genet Genomics 43: 217-221.

 

34.Liu T, Fang C, Ma Y, Shen Y, Li C, Li Q, Wang M, Liu S, Zhang J, Zhou Z, Yang R, Wang Z, and Tian Z**. 2016. Global investigation of the coevolution of MIRNA genes and microRNA targets during soybean domestication. Plant J 85: 396-409.

 

35.Wang Z, and Tian Z**. 2015. Genomics progress will facilitate molecular breeding in soybean. Sci China Life Sci 58: 813-815.

 

36.Zhou Z*, Jiang Y*, Wang Z*, Gou Z*, Lyu J*, Li W*, Yu Y, Shu L, ZhaoY, Ma Y, Fang C, Shen Y, Liu T, Li C, Li Q, Wu M, Wang M, Wu Y, Dong Y, Wan W, Wang X, Ding Z, Gao Y, Xiang H, Zhu B, Lee SH, Wang W**, and Tian Z**. 2015. Resequencing 302 wild and cultivated accessions identifies genes related to domestication and improvement in soybean. Nat Biotechnol 33: 408-414.

 

37.Wang Z*, Zhou Z*, Liu Y*, Liu T, Li Q, Ji Y, Li C, Fang C, Wang M, Wu M, Shen Y, Tang T**, Ma J**, and Tian Z**. 2015. Functional evolution of phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins in soybean and Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 27: 323-336.

 

38.Yang K*, Tian Z*, Chen C*, Luo L*, Zhao B, Wang Z, Yu L, Li Y, Sun Y, Li W, Chen Y, Li Y, Zhang Y, Ai D, Zhao J, Shang C, Ma Y, Wu B, Wang M, Gao L, Sun D, Zhang P, Guo F, Wang W, Li Y, Wang J, Varshney R**, Wang J**, Ling HQ**, and Wan P**. 2015. Genome sequencing of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) provides insight into high starch and low fat accumulation and domestication. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 112: 13213-13218.

 

39.Bai C*, Guo P*, Zhao Q, Lv Z, Zhang S, Gao F, Gao L, Wang Y, Tian Z, Wang J, Yang F, and Liu C**. 2015. Protomer roles in chloroplast chaperonin assembly and function. Mol Plant 8: 1478-1492.

 

40.Shen Y*, Zhou Z*, Wang Z, Li W, Fang C, Wu M, Ma Y, Liu T, Kong LA, Peng DL, and Tian Z**. 2014. Global dissection of alternative splicing in paleopolyploid soybean. Plant Cell 26: 996-1008.

 

41.Fang C*, Li C*, Li W, Wang Z, Zhou Z, Shen Y, Wu M, Wu Y, Li G, Kong LA, Liu C, Jackson SA**, and Tian Z**. 2014. Concerted evolution of D1 and D2 to regulate chlorophyll degradation in soybean. Plant J 77, 700-712.

 

42.Zhang F*, ShenY*, Sun S*, Guo J*, Li C, Wu C, Li Q, Nian H, Huang X**, Tian Z**, and Han T**. 2014. Genome-wide gene expression analysis in a dwarf soybean mutant. Plant Genet Resour 12: S70-S73.

 

43.Ping J*, Liu Y*, Sun L*, Zhao M, Li Y, She M, Sui Y, Lin F, Liu X, Tang Z, Nguyen H, Tian Z, Qiu L, Nelson RL, Clemente TE, Specht JE, and Ma J**. 2014. Dt2 is a gain-of-function MADS-domain factor gene that specifies semideterminacy in soybean. Plant Cell 26: 2831-2842.

 

44.Zhou Z*, Wang Z*, Li W*, Fang C, Shen Y, Li C, Wu Y, and Tian Z**. 2013. Comprehensive analyses of microRNA genes evolution in paleopolyploid soybean genome. Plant J 76: 332-344.

 

45.Fang C, Li W, Li G, Wang Z, Zhou Z, Ma Y, Shen Y, Li C, Wu Y, Zhu B, Yang W, and Tian Z**. 2013. Cloning of Ln gene through combined approach of map-based cloning and association study in soybean. J Genet Genomics 40: 93-96.