Zhanyuan Zhang

• Phone: 573-882-6922
• Lab: 573-882-3730
• FAX: 573-882-1469
• E-mail: zhangzh@missouri.edu
• Office: 007A Sears Plant Growth Facility
• Mailing Address:
    1-31 Agriculture Building
    University of Missouri
    Columbia, MO 65211

Research Interests:

The primary research goal in the lab is to develop cutting-edge transformation technologies for soybean (Glycine max) and maize (Zea mays). Therefore, research focuses on improvement of regeneration and transformation processes for these crops. The researchersare now using Agrobacterium-mediated DNA delivery system for soybean transformation (Zeng et al., 2004). Since spring 2003, they have been using this T-DNA delivery system for maize transformation employing simple binary vectors.

Zhang's research team is interested in the gene regulation and functional genomics in soybean. Their current emphasis is on the development of efficient gene regulation systems and reverse genetics-based functional genomics in soybean. These include design and cloning of transgene expression cassettes, development of transgenic soybean, and analysis of transgene expression at molecular levels. These gene cassettes may include DNA elements responsible for regulation of key steps in regulatory and biosynthetic pathways and value-added traits. The transgenic approach combined with molecular analyses can accomplish unique goals otherwise impossible by conventional approaches.