Dr Longfu Zhu Professor in Plant Genetics and Breeding
Expertise Statement Teaching Duties Biochemistry Research Interests Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae is the most devastating disease for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) production in China. Our group is interested in elucidating plant immune signaling pathways and virulence factors from fungus involved in cotton-V. dahliae interaction through cellular, functional genomic, genetic, biochemical and bioinformatic approaches with the resistant germplasm ‘7124’ (G. barbadense) and the high aggressive strain ‘V991’. In addition, plant immunity is inextricably linked with plant development and environmental stresses. We are also interested in understanding the signaling crosstalk that orchestrates plant development and immune response. Ultimately, knowledge gained from fundamental research will be applied to improve cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt and other biotic/abiotic stresses.
Education & Working Experience Ph. D.1999-2004, Huazhong Agricultural University Major:Agronomy Minor:CottonGenetics and Breeding
B. Sc.1995-1999 Huazhong Agricultural University Major:Agronomy Visit Professor:2007.12-2008.12 Biological Department of Texas Tech Univeristy, USA 2014.2-2014.5 Phytopathology Group, Wageningen University & Research Center, Netherlands
Representive Publications 1.Sun L Q, Zhu L F, Xu L, Yuan D J, Min L, Zhang X L*. (2014). Cotton Cytochrome P450 CYP82D regulates systemic cell death by modulating the octadecanoid pathway. Nature Communication, Accepted. 2.Li C, He X, Luo X Y, Xu L, Liu L L, Min L, Jin L, Zhu L F*, Zhang X L. (2014). GbWRKY1 mediates plant defense-to-development transition during infection of Verticillium dahliae by activating JAZ1 expression. Plant Physiology, Provisional Acceptance/Under Revision. 3.Xu L, Zhang W, He X, Liu M, Zhang K, Shaban M, Sun L Q, Zhu J C, Luo Y J, Yuan D J, Zhang X L, and Zhu L F*. (2014). Functional characterization of cotton genes responsive to Verticillium dahliae through bioinformatics and reverse genetics strategies. Journal of Experimental Botany, Accepted. 4.Liu L L, Zhang W W, Zhou Y, Miao Y H, Xu L, Liu M, Zhang K, Zhang X L, Zhu L F*. (2014). The resistance of cotton and tomato to Verticillium dahliae from cotton is independent on Ve1. Scientia Sinica Vitae 44:803-814. 5.Gao W, Long L, Zhu L F*, Xu L, Gao W H, Sun L Q, Liu L L, and Zhang X L* (2013). Proteomic and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) analyses reveal that gossypol, brassinosteroids, and jasmonic acid contribute to the resistance of cotton to Verticillium dahliae. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 12, 3690-3703. 6. Xu L, Jin L, Long L, Liu L L, He X, Gao W, Zhu L F*, Zhang X L. (2012). Overexpression of GbWRKY1 positively regulates the Pi starvation response by alteration of auxin sensitivity in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell Reports 31(12): 2177-2188. 7. Xu L, Zhu L F, Tu L L, Liu L L, Yuan D J, Jin L, Long L, and Zhang X L*. (2011). Lignin metabolism has a central role in the resistance of cotton to the wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae as revealed by RNA-Seq-dependent transcriptional analysis and histochemistry. J Experimental Botany 62, 5607-5621.
Contact details Zhu Longfu National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University,Wuhan, Hubei 430070 P. R. China Tel: +86-27-87283955 Fax: +86-27-87280196 E-mail:lfzhu@mail.hzau.edu.cn, longfuzhu@gmail.com |