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Featured researches published by Weigang Xu.


Protoplasma | 2016

Erratum to: Drought tolerance and proteomics studies of transgenic wheat containing the maize C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) gene

Na Qin; Weigang Xu; Lin Hu; Yan Li; Huiwei Wang; Xueli Qi; Yuhui Fang; Xia Hua

Enhancing drought tolerance of crops has been a great challenge in crop improvement. Here, we report the maize phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) gene was able to confer drought tolerance and increase grain yield in transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. The improved of drought tolerance was associated with higher levels of proline, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and higher water use efficiency. The transgenic wheat plants had also a more extensive root system as well as increased photosynthetic capacity during stress treatments. The increased grain yield of the transgenic wheat was contributed by improved biomass, larger spike and grain numbers, and heavier 1000-grain weight under drought-stress conditions. Under non-stressed conditions, there were no significant increases in these of the measured traits except for photosynthetic rate when compared with parental wheat. Proteomic research showed that the expression levels of some proteins, including chlorophyll A-B binding protein and pyruvate, phosphate dikinase, which are related to photosynthesis, PAP fibrillin, which is involved in cytoskeleton synthesis, S-adenosylmethionine synthetase, which catalyzes methionine synthesis, were induced in the transgenic wheat under drought stress. Additionally, the expression of glutamine synthetase, which is involved in ammonia assimilation, was induced by drought stress in the wheat. Our study shows that PEPC can improve both stress tolerance and grain yield in wheat, demonstrating the efficacy of PEPC in crop improvement.


Protoplasma | 2017

Physiological characteristics and metabolomics of transgenic wheat containing the maize C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) gene under high temperature stress

Xueli Qi; Weigang Xu; Jianzhou Zhang; Rui Guo; Mingzhong Zhao; Lin Hu; Huiwei Wang; Haibin Dong; Yan Li

In this paper, two transgenic wheat lines, PC27 and PC51, containing the maize PEPC gene and its wild-type (WT) were used as experimental material to study the effects of high temperature on their photosynthetic physiological characteristics and metabolome. The results showed that transgenic wheat lines had higher photosynthetic rate (Pn) than WT under non-stress treatment (NT) and high temperature stress treatment (HT), and more significantly under HT. The change trends of Fv/Fm, ФPSII, and qP were similar to Pn, whereas that of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was the opposite. Compared with WT, no differences in chlorophyll content between the transgenic wheat and WT were observed under NT, but two transgenic lines had relatively higher contents than WT under HT. The change trends of Chlorophyll a/b radio, the decreased values of Fm, Wk, and Vj, and the activity of the antioxidant enzyme were consistent with the chlorophyll content. Compared with WT, transgenic wheat lines exhibited lower rate of superoxide anion production, H2O2 and malondialdehyde content under HT, and no significant differences were observed under NT. The expression pattern of the ZmPEPC gene and wheat endogenous photosynthesis-related genes were in agreement with that of Pn. Compared with WT, about 13 different metabolites including one organic acid, six amino acids, four sugars, and two polyols were identified under NT; 25 different metabolites including six organic acids, 12 amino acids, four sugars, and three polyols were identified under HT. Collectively, our results indicate that ZmPEPC gene can enhance photochemical and antioxidant enzyme activity, upregulate the expression of photosynthesis-related genes, delay degradation of chlorophyll, change contents of proline and other metabolites in wheat, and ultimately improves its heat tolerance.


Scientific Reports | 2018

Molecular marker assisted breeding and genome composition analysis of Zhengmai 7698, an elite winter wheat cultivar

Chunxin Li; Weigang Xu; Rui Guo; Jianzhou Zhang; Xueli Qi; Lin Hu; Mingzhong Zhao

Zhengmai 7698 is an elite winter wheat variety widely cultivated in the Southern regions of the Yellow-Huai River Valley of China. Here, we report the molecular markers used for breeding Zhengmai 7698 and the genome composition of this cultivar revealed using genome-wide SNPs. A total of 26 DNA markers derived from the genes controlling gluten protein quality, grain hardness, flour color, disease resistance, or pre-harvesting sprouting resistance were used during breeding. Consequently, Zhengmai 7698 had strong gluten, high grain hardness index, white flour color, and high levels of resistance to powdery mildew, stripe rust infections, and pre-harvesting sprouting. Using genome complexity reduction, 28,996 high-quality SNPs distributed on 21 wheat chromosomes were identified among Zhengmai 7698 and its three parental lines (4B269, Zhengmai 9405 and Zhoumai 16). Zhengmai 7698 shared 12,776, 14,411 and 16,085 SNPs with 4B269, Zhengmai 9405 and Zhoumai 16, respectively. Thus, the contributions of 4B269, Zhengmai 9405 and Zhoumai 16 to the genome of Zhengmai 7698 were comparable. Interestingly, Zhengmai 7698 had 307 unique SNPs that are absent in all three parents. We suggest that molecular markers facilitate selection of a wheat cultivar with multiple elite traits. Analysis of genome composition with SNPs may provide useful clues for further dissecting the genetic basis of improved wheat performance.


Plant Growth Regulation | 2018

Effects of the maize C 4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase ( ZmPEPC ) gene on nitrogen assimilation in transgenic wheat

Chaojun Peng; Weigang Xu; Lin Hu; Yan Li; Xueli Qi; Huiwei Wang; Xia Hua; Mingzhong Zhao

Nitrogen (N) is the primary limiting factor for crop growth, development, and productivity. Transgenic technology is a straightforward strategy for improving N assimilation in crops. The present study assessed the effects of maize C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (ZmPEPC) gene overexpression on N assimilation in three independent transgenic lines and wild-type (WT) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The transgenic wheat lines depicted ZmPEPC overexpression and higher PEPC enzyme activity relative to that in the WT. The leaves of the transgenic wheat lines subjected to low N treatment showed an increase in ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) expression, content, and carboxylase activity. The transgenic wheat lines also depicted an upregulation of genes associated with the anaplerotic pathway for the TCA cycle, suggesting that more carbon (C) skeleton material is being allocated for N assimilation under low N conditions. Furthermore, ZmPEPC expression in transgenic wheat lines induced the upregulated of genes associated primary N metabolism, including TaNR, TaGS2, TaGOGAT, TaAspAT, and TaASN1. The average total free amino acid content in the transgenic wheat lines was 48.18% higher than that in the WT, and asparagine (Asn), glutamine (Gln), aspartic acid (Asp), and serine (Ser) were also markedly enhanced. In addition, elementary analysis showed that N and C content, and the biomass of the transgenic wheat lines increased with low N treatment. Yield trait analysis indicated that ZmPEPC overexpression improved grain yield by increasing 1000-grain weight. In conclusion, ZmPEPC overexpression in wheat could modulate C metabolism, significantly improve N assimilation, enhances growth, and improves yield under low N conditions.


Plant Breeding | 2012

Improvement of the photosynthetic characteristics of transgenic wheat plants by transformation with the maize C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene

Lin Hu; Yan Li; Weigang Xu; Qingchen Zhang; Lei Zhang; Xueli Qi; Haibin Dong


Protoplasma | 2014

Pyramiding expression of maize genes encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) synergistically improve the photosynthetic characteristics of transgenic wheat

HuiFang Zhang; Weigang Xu; Huiwei Wang; Lin Hu; Yan Li; Xueli Qi; Lei Zhang; Chunxin Li; Xia Hua


Plant Breeding | 2011

Identification and molecular mapping of PmHNK54: a novel powdery mildew resistance gene in common wheat

Weigang Xu; Chunxin Li; Lin Hu; Huiwei Wang; Haibin Dong; Jianzhou Zhang; Xiangcun Zan


Plant Molecular Biology Reporter | 2012

Expression of Maize Gene Encoding C4-Pyruvate Orthophosphate Dikinase (PPDK) and C4-Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase (PEPC) in Transgenic Arabidopsis

Yu-Min Wang; Weigang Xu; Lin Hu; Lei Zhang; Yan Li; Xi-He Du


Field Crops Research | 2016

Progress in genetic improvement of grain yield and related physiological traits of Chinese wheat in Henan Province

Yu Zhang; Weigang Xu; Huiwei Wang; Haibin Dong; Xueli Qi; Mingzhong Zhao; Yuhui Fang; Chong Gao; Lin Hu


Archive | 2009

Corn C4 phosphoric acid enol pyruvic acid carboxylase gene and uses in producing wheat

Weigang Xu; Yan Li; Lei Zhang; Lin Hu

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Lin Hu

Nanjing Agricultural University

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Xueli Qi

Henan Agricultural University

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Chunxin Li

Nanjing Agricultural University

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Yuhui Fang

Nanjing Agricultural University

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Yu Zhang

Henan Agricultural University

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Chaojun Peng

Nanjing Agricultural University

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Haiyan Wang

Nanjing Agricultural University

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HuiFang Zhang

Henan Agricultural University

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Jin Xiao

Nanjing Agricultural University

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Jingya Yuan

Nanjing Agricultural University

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