Prof. YU Diqiu’s research group has been selected to participate in the research project on “innovation systems of designer breeding by molecular modules”, a strategic priority research program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Yu Diqiu’s team will conduct study on dependable crop and high yield of rice and analysis of molecular modules. Prof. Yu Diqiu is principal investigator (PI) and the co-PI is Prof. Li Laigeng from Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology.

    The objective of the project is to keep and improve rice productivities by integrating multiple prominent molecular blocks into the same rice species.

   The research interest of Yu’s group focuses on the functions of plant WRKY transcription factors in response to biotic (bacterium and fungi) and abiotic (salt, hot, cold, etc.) stresses. Recently, their research work has been published in PNAS, Plant Cell, and Plant Journal. Abiotic stresses have become the major limitation factor for crop productivities.