Spring wheat

Li Lab

About Us

We are part of the Department of Biology and Microbiology and the Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science.

Our Research

Research in the Li Lab focuses on genetics, genomics, germplasm enhancement and evolution of wheat and its relatives. We are studying genetics of agriculturally important traits using genome mapping, map-based cloning, transcriptomics, metabolics and reverse genetics approaches such as allele mining and genome editing. The traits under investigations range from grain size, biotic stress resistance, abiotic tolerance to root development. We are developing novel germplasm using interspecific hybridization-based and genome-editing approaches. We are analyzing phylogeny of polyploid wheats using a chloroplast-based whole genome approach and studying the role of chromosome rearrangements in speciation of diploid and polyploid wheat and relative species.

Current Research ProjectsProtocols

Publications
  • Gupta A., Hua L., Zhang Z., Yang B., Li W. 2023. CRISPR-induced miRNA156-recognition element mutations in TaSPL13 improve multiple agronomic traits in wheat. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 21(3): 536–548. doi: 10.1111/pbi.13969.
  • Li W.Q., Challa G.S., Gupta A., Gu L., Wu Y., Li W. 2022. Physiological and transcriptomic characterization of sea-wheatgrass-derived waterlogging tolerance in wheat. Plants (Basel). 11(1): 108.
  • Gupta A., Hua L., Lin G., Molnár I., Doležel J., Liu S., Li W. 2021. Multiple origins of Indian dwarf wheat by mutations targeting the TREE domain of a GSK3-like kinase for drought tolerance, phosphate uptake and grain quality. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 134:633-645.
  • Zhang Z., Hua L., Gupta A., Tricoli D., Edwards K.J., Yang B., Li W. 2019 Development of an Agrobacterium-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 system for wheat genome editing. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 17(8):1623-1635.
  • Li W., Zhang J., Wang S., Langham M.A., Singh D., Bowden R.L., Xu S.S. 2019. Development and characterization of wheat-sea wheatgrass (Thinopyrum junceiforme) amphiploids for biotic stress resistance and abiotic stress tolerance. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 132:163-175
  • Hua L., Challa G.S., Subramanian S., Gu X., Li W. 2018. Genome-wide identification of drought response genes in soybean seedlings and development of biomarkers for early diagnoses. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 2018 May 13. doi: 10.1007/s11105-018-1085-z.
  • Li W., Yang B. 2017. Translational genomics of grain size regulation in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 130(9), 1765-1771
  • Li W., Challa G.S., Zhu H., Wei W. 2016. Recurrence of Chromosome Rearrangements and Reuse of DNA Breakpoints in the Evolution of the Triticeae Genomes. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 6 (12), 3837-3847.
  • Zhang Z.Z., Wei W., Challa G.S., Bi C., Trick H.N., Li W. 2015. W3 is a new wax locus that is essential for biosynthesis of β-diketone, development of glaucousness, and reduction of cuticle permeability in common wheat. PLoS One 10(10): e0140524.
  • Zhang Z., Zhu H., Gill B.S., Li W. 2015. Fine mapping and haplotyping of Br2 interval revealed genomic and population structure variation in Aegilops tauschii Coss. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 128:745–755.
  • Gornicki P., Zhu H., Wang J., Challa G.S., Gill B.S., Li W. 2014. The Chloroplast view of the evolution of polyploid wheats. New Phytologist 204:704-714.
  • Wang J., Li W., Wang W. 2014. Fine mapping and metabolic and physiological characterization of the glume glaucousness inhibitor locus Iw3 derived from wild wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 127:831-841.
  • Luo M.C., Gu Y.Q., You F.M., Deal K.R., Ma Y.Q., Hu Y., Huo N., Wang Y., Wang J.R., Chen S.Y., Jorgensen C.M., Zhang Y., McGuire P.E., Pasternak S., Stein J.C., Ware D.H., Kramer M., McCombie W.R., Kianian S.F., Martis M.M., Mayer KFX, Sehgal S.K., Li W., Gill B.S., Bevan M.W., Å imková H., Doležel J., Song W., Lazo G.R., Anderson O.D., Dvorak J. 2013. A 4-gigabase physical map unlocks the structure and evolution of the complex genome of Aegilops tauschii, the wheat D-genome progenitor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 110: 7940-7945.
  • Li W., Zhu H., Challa G.S., Zhang Z.Z. 2013. Non-additive interaction in a single locus causes a very short root phenotype in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 126:1189-1200.
  • Zhang Z., Wang W., Li W. 2013. Genetic Interactions Underlying the Biosynthesis and Inhibition of β-Diketones in Wheat and Their Impact on Glaucousness and Cuticle Permeability. PLoS ONE 8(1): e54129. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054129.
  • Rawat N., Sehgal S.K., Joshi A., Rothe N., Wilson D.L., McGraw N., Vadlani P.V., Li W., Gill B.S. 2012. A diploid wheat Tilling resource for wheat functional genomics. BMC Plant Biology 2012, 12: 205 doi:10.1186/1471-2229-12-205.
  • Akhunov E., Sehgal S., Liang H., Wang S., Akhunova A., Kaur G, Li W., Forrest K., See D., Simkova H., Hayden M., Luo M., Farris J., Dolezel J., Gill B.S. 2012. Comparative analysis of syntenic genes in grass genomes reveals accelerated rates of gene structure and coding sequence evolution in polyploid wheat. Plant Physiology. 161: 252-265.
  • Sehgal S.K., Li W., Rabinowicz P.D., Å imková H., Doležel J., Gill B.S. 2012. Chromosome arm specific BAC end sequences permit comparative analysis of homoeologous chromosomes and genome of polyploid wheat. BMC Plant Biology DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-12-6422559868
  • Bi C., Chen F., Jackson L., Gill B.S., Li W. 2010. Expression of lignin biosynthetic genes in wheat during development and upon infection by fungal pathogens. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter DOI: 10.1007/s11105-010-0219-8.
  • Huang L., Brooks S., Li W., Fellers J., Nelson J.C. and Gill BS. 2009. Evolution of new disease specificity at a simple resistance locus in a crop–weed complex: Reconstitution of Lr21 gene in wheat. Genetics 182: 595-602.
  • Zhang P., Li W., Friebe B., Gill B. 2008. The origin of the ‘zebra’ chromosome consisting of segments from nonhomologous chromosomes of Triticum aestivum and Elymus trachycaulus and its implications in chromosome evolution. Genetics 179: 1169–1177.
  • Li W., Huang L., Gill B.S. 2008. Recurrent deletions of puroindoline genes at the grain hardness locus in four independent lineages of polyploid wheat. Plant Physiology 146: 200-212.
  • Gill B.S., Li W., Sood S., Kuraparthy V., Friebe B., Simons K.J., Zhang Z., Faris J.D. 2007. Genetics and genomics of wheat domestication-driven evolution. Israeli Journal of Plant Science. 55: 223-229.
  • Hill-Ambroz K., Webb C.A., Matthews A.R., Li W., Gill B.S., Fellers J.P. 2006. Expression analysis and physical mapping of a cDNA library of Fusarium head blight infected wheat spikes. Plant Genome, a Supply to Crop Science, 46:S14–S26
  • Li W., Gill B.S. 2006. Multiple genetic pathways for seed shattering in grasses. Functional and Integrative Genomics 6: 300-309.
  • Lamoureux D., Peterson D.G., Li W., Fellers J.P., Gill B.S. 2005. The efficacy of Cot-based gene enrichment in wheat. Genome 48: 1120-1126.
  • Weng Y., Li W., Devkota R., Rudd J. 2004. Microsatellite markers associated with two Aegilops tauschii-derived greenbug resistance loci in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 110: 462–469.
  • Li W., Zhang P., Fellers J.P., Friebe B., Gill B.S. 2004. Sequence composition, organization and evolution of the core Triticeae genome. Plant Journal 40: 500-511.
  • Yu J.K., Dake T.M., Singh S., Benscher D., Li W., Gill B.S., Sorrells M.E. 2004. Development and mapping of EST-derived simple sequence repeat markers for hexaploid wheat. Genome 47:805-818.
  • Zhang P., Li W., Fellers J., Friebe B., Gill B.S. 2004. BAC-FISH in wheat identifies chromosome landmarks consisting of different types of transposable elements. Chromosoma 112: 288-299.
  • Zhang P., Li W., Friebe B., Gill B.S. 2004. Simultaneous painting of three genomes in hexaploid wheat by BAC-FISH. Genome 47: 979-987.
  • Huang L., S.A. Brooks, W. Li, J.P. Fellers, H.N. Trick and B.S. Gill. 2003. Map-based cloning of leaf rust resistance gene Lr21 from the large and polyploid genome of bread wheat. Genetics 164: 655-664.
  • Luo M.C., Thomas C., Deal K.R., You F.M., Anderson O.D., Gu Y.Q., Li W., Kuraparthy V., Gill B.S., McGuire P.E., Dvorak J. 2003 Construction of contigs of Ae. tauschii genomic DNA fragments cloned in BAC and BiBAC vectors. Proc. 10th International Wheat Genetics Symposium, Sept. 1-6, Paestum, Italy, pp. 293-296.
  • Li W., Nelson C.J., Chu C.Y., Shi L.H., Huang S.H., Liu DJ. 2002. Chromosomal locations and genetic relationships of tiller and spike characters in wheat. Euphytica 125: 357-366.
  • Li W., Gill B.S. 2002. The colinearity of the Sh2/A1 orthologous region in rice, sorghum and maize is interrupted and accompanied by genome expansion in the triticeae. Genetics 160: 1153-1162.
  • Li W., Faris J.D., Muthukrishnan S., Liu D.J., Chen P.D., Gill B.S. 2001. Isolation and characterization of novel cDNA clones encoding chitinases and -1,3-glucanases from wheat spikelets infected by Fusarium graminearum. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 102: 353-362.
  • Anand A., Li W., Sathivel N., Krishnaveni S., Muthukrishnan S., Gill B.S., Essig J.S., Adams R.E., Janakiraman V., Trick H.N. 2000. Characterization of wheat PR-protein cDNAs for transformation of wheat to enhance resistance to scab. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum, Dec. 10-12, Erlanger, KT, USA, pp. 5-12.
  • Gill B.S., Li W., Anand A., Fellers J.P., Trick H.N., Muthukrishnan S., Liu D.J., Chen P.D. 2000. Analysis of genes induced in wheat spikes upon infection with Fusarium graminearum and their manipulation to improve wheat plant resistance to Fusarium head scab disease. Proc. Internal Symp. Wheat Improvement for Scab Resistance, May 5-11, Suzhou and Nanjing, China, pp. 136-139.
  • Liu J.Y., D.J. Liu, W.J. Tao, W. Li, S.L. Wang, P.D. Chen, S.H. Cheng and D.R. Gao. 2000. Molecular marker-facilitated pyramiding of different genes for powdery mildew resistance in wheat. Plant Breeding 119: 21-24.
  • Singh S., W. Li, Q.J. Song, P. Cregan, G.L Brown-Guedira and B.S. Gill. 2000. Development and physical mapping of microsatellite markers in wheat. 2000 National Fusarium Head Blight Forum, Dec. 10-12, Erlanger, KT, USA, pp. 52-53.
  • Faris J.D., W. Li, D.J. Liu, P.D. Chen and B.S. Gill. 1999. Candidate gene analysis of quantitative disease resistance in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 98: 219-225
  • Li W., J.D. Faris, J. Chittoor, J.E. Leach, D.J. Liu, P.D. Chen, B.S. Gill. 1999. Genomic mapping of defense response genes in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 98: 226-233.
  • Qi L.L., Cao M.S., Chen P.D., Li W., Liu D.J. 1996. Identification, mapping and application of polymorphic DNA associated with the resistance gene Pm21 of wheat. Genome 39: 191-197.
  • Li W., Chen P.D., Qi L.L., Liu D.J. 1995. Isolation, characterization and application of a species-specific repeated sequence from Haynaldia villosa. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 90: 526-533.
  • Li W., Liu D.J., Chen P.D., Qi L.L. 1993. Cloning of repeated sequences of Haynaldia villosa DNA to detect its chromatin in wheat. Proc. 8th Internal. Wheat Genet. Symp. July 20-25, Beijing, China, pp. 817-82.
  • Li W., Li Z.S., Mu S.M. 1992. Chromosomal location of genes for erect flag leaves of common wheat variety Xiaoyan No. 6. English version: Chinese Journal of Genetics 19: 21-25.
  • Li W., Li Z.S., Huang S.S. 1990. Chromosomal location of gene for auricle development in common wheat. Wheat Information Service 71: 27-28.
  • Li W., Li Z.S., Mu S.M. 1990. A cytogenetic study of chromosomal structure changes in common wheat variety Xiaoyan No. 6. Chinese Journal of Genetics 17: 255-262.

Contact Information

  • Graduate Programs

    • Department of Biology and Microbiology, in which the Li Lab is a part of, offers master's and Ph.D. programs in biology. Interested candidates can contact Wanlong Li directly before formally applying to the university.

  • Postdoctoral Fellows

    • Inquiries about postdoctoral positions should be emailed directly to Wanlong Li.
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