PAG ASIA 2015

July 12 - 15, 2015

Plenary Lecture: Dabing Zhang - "Molecular Control of Rice Male Fertility"

Professor, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, SJTU–University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, CHINA; School of Agriculture, University of Adelaide, AUSTRALIA

In 1998 Dr. Dabing Zhang (DBZ) was awarded Ph.D in Plant Molecular Genetics from Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. DBZ was offered an Assistant Professor position at Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS) in 1998. He was promoted to as an Associate Professor in 1999. In 2001-2005, DBZ worked as a Full Professor at SAAS. In 2004, DBZ was offered a Full Professor position in School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SLSB-SJTU). In 2008, DBZ commenced a Distinguished Professor position in SJTU. He also became a Yangtse River Scholar of Ministry of Education (2009-present). In January 2015, DBZ took a Full Professor position at the University of Adelaide, running the joint laboratory on plant science and breeding between the University of Adelaide and SJTU.

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphogenesis of the inflorescence, flowers, and anthers in higher plants, since 2000 DBZ’s group has identified several new regulators that specify the meristem activity and organogenesis of rice inflorescence and floral meristem and organ. These works provided insight into the origin and development of the specialized rice flower organ. Furthermore, his team identified about ten regulators controlling rice anther development and pollen formation. From 2005, DBZ has published about 120 peer-reviewed research and review articles in reputational journals.