Xu Yan

  1. Personal Data

  Prof. Dr. Xu Yan, Male, Date of Birth: Apr. 20, 1972.

  Professor of College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University

  2. Education

  (1)1991.09-1995.06: B.S. Horticulture, Department of Horticulture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, China

  (2)1997.09-2000.12: Master Pomology, Department of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, China

  (3) 2001.09-2006.06: Ph.D. Pomology, Department of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, China

  3. Professional Experience

  (1) 2001.02-2005.12: Lecturer of Department of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, China

  (2) 2006.04-2007.04: Postdoctoral Research with Dr. Xing-wang Deng, Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, USA

  (3) 2007.05-2008.09: Postdoctoral Research Associate with Dr. Xing-wang Deng, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China

  (4) 2008.12-2013.12: Associate Professor of Pomology, Department of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, China

  (5) 2011.03-2011.08: Postdoctoral Research Associate with Dr.Astrid Forneck, Boku University Vienna, Austria

  (6) 2014.01-present:  Professor of Pomology, Department of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, China

  4. Research Description:

  Our lab is interested in studying how Chinese wild grapes sense and respond to Plasmopara viticola stress. Particularly, we are interested in understanding regulation of disease resistant signaling mechanisms and disease resistance genes under P. viticola stress in Chinese wild Vitis species. Our research involves analysis of function of target genes with bio-chemical method in vitro, and also genetic and molecular characterization of grapevine that are altered in response to the pathogen stimuli. The goals are to elucidate the Chinese wild grape signaling pathways in response to the pathogen stress and to identify key components that can potentially be engineered for improvement of crop plants to encounter pathogen stress. His research program focuses on developing new variety with resistance to fungi diseases, such as Downy mildew. His lab studies the genetics of resistance to this fungal disease, their genetic diversity and aggressivity, and host/pathogen interactions of this fungal with Chinese wild grape species. Dr. Xu's lab is also actively involved in breeding table, raisin grapes for resistance to Downy mildew. Particularly, we are interested in breeding of seedless grape variety for resistance to Downy mildew with cross combinations between Chinese wild grapes species and commercial seedless grape varieties using embryo rescue method.

  5. Appointments/Memberships in Professional Societies

  Prof. Dr. Xu serves as members of State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China and Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China, as well as an Vice head of Department of Pomology in College of Horticulture, Member of the Shaanxi Province Horticulture society.

  6. Undergraduate & graduate teaching

  He teaches Pomology breeding for undergraduate course, Advanced in Pomology and Modern Bio-technology for graduate courses, which instructs students in variety selection and identification, propagation practices, molecular breeding and vineyard development.

  7. Academic achievements

  He won one the 1st Prize of the province Sci-Tech Progress Award in Shaanxi, Professor Xu has undertaken 14 national, ministerial and provincial projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation, Basic Research Development Program, National Key Science and Technology Project and Excellent talent Fund of Ministry of Education of China etc. He also participated in more than 10 other national, ministerial or provincial research projects.

  8. Publications:

  ⑴Ruiqi Liu, Lan Wang, Jiali Zhu, Tingting Liu, Yuejin Wang, Yan Xu. Histological responses to downy mildew in resistant and susceptible grapevines. Protoplasma. 2015, 252: 259-270.

  ⑵Lan Wang, Jinyu Wei, Ying Zou, Keyao Xu, Yuejin Wang, Lu Cui,Yan Xu. Molecular Characteristics and Biochemical Functions of VpPR10s from Vitis pseudoreticulata Associated with Biotic and Abiotic Stresses. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2014, 15, 19162-19182.

  ⑶Kai Weng, Zhi-Qian Li, Rui-Qi Liu, Lan Wang, Yuejin Wang, Yan Xu. RNA-Seq Analysis of the Transcriptome of Vitis Pseudoreticulata in Response to Powdery Mildew Infection. Horticulture Research,2014, doi:10.1038/hortres.2014.49.

  ⑷Teng-Fei Xu, Xiao-Chen Zhao, Yun-Tong Jiao, Jin-Yu Wei, Lan Wang, Yan Xu. A pathogenesis related protein, VpPR-10.1, from Vitis pseudoreticulata: An insight of its mode of antifungal activity. PLoS ONE. 2014, 9(4):e95102. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095102.

  ⑸Yihe Yu,Weirong Xu, JieWang, Lei Wang, Wenkong Yao, Yazhou Yang, Yan Xu, Fuli Ma, Yangjian Du and Yuejin Wang. The Chinese wild grapevine (Vitis pseudoreticulata) E3 ubiquitin ligase Erysiphe necator-induced RING ?nger protein 1 (EIRP1) activates plant defense responses by inducing proteolysis of the VpWRKY11 transcription factor. New Phytologist. 2013, 200(3):834-846.

  ⑹XIN GUAN, HEQING ZHAO, YAN XU, YUEJIN WANG. Studies on gene transfer of shoot apical meristems by Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in a progeny of Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata. Vitis 2013, 52 (4):185-192.

  ⑺Teng-Fei Xu, Jiang-Xiang, Feng-Ju Li, Tie-Mei Li, Yi-He Yu, Yue-Jin Wang, Yan Xu. Screening proteins interacting with VpPR10.1 of Chinese wild grapevine using the yeast-two hybrid system. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum. 2013, 35(8): 2355-2364.

  ⑻J. Xiang, R. Q. Liu, T. M. Li, L. J. Han, Y. Zou, T. F. Xu, J. Y. Wei, Y. J. Wang, Y. Xu. Isolation and Characterization of Two VpYABBY Genes from Chinese Wild Vitis pseudoreticulata. Protoplasma. 2013, 250:1315-1325.

  ⑼Mingyang He, Yan Xu, Jiangling Cao, Ziguo Zhu, Yuntong Jiao, Yuejin Wang, Xin Guan, Yazhou Yang, Weirong Xu, Zhenfang Fu. Subcellular localization and functional analyses of a PR10 protein gene from Vitis pseudoreticulata in response to Plasmopara viticola infection. Protoplasma. 2013, 250:129-140.

  ⑽Ziguo Zhu, Jiangli Shi, Weirong Xu, Huie Li, Mingyang He, Yan Xu, Tengfei Xu, Yazhou Yang, Jiangling Cao, Yuejin Wang. Three ERF transcription factors from Chinese wild grapevine Vitis pseudoreticulata participate in different biotic and abiotic stress-responsive pathways. Journal of Plant Physiology. 2013, 170:923-933.

  ⑾Yihe Yu, Weirong Xu, Jie Wang, Lei Wang, Wenkong Yao, Yan Xu, Jiahua Ding, Yuejin Wang. A core functional region of the RFP1 promoter from Chinese wild grapevine is activated by powdery mildew pathogen and heat stress. Planta. 2013, 237:293-303.

  ⑿Heqing Zhao, Xin Guan, Yan Xu, Yuejin Wang. Characterization of novel gene expression related to Glyoxal oxidase by agro-infiltration of the leaves of accession Baihe-35-1 of Vitis pseudoreticulata. Protoplasma.2013, 250:765-777.

  ⒀Yazhou Yang, Mingyang He, Ziguo Zhu, Shuxiu Li, Yan Xu, Chaohong Zhang, Stacy D Singer, Yuejin Wang. Identification of the dehydrin gene family from grapevine species and analysis of their responsiveness to various forms of abiotic and biotic stress. BMC Plant Biology 2012, 12:140 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-12-140.

  ⒁Q. Zhou, H. Gao, M.Wang, Y. Xu, Y. Z. Guo, Y. Z. Wan, Z. Y. Zhao. Characterization of defense-related genes in the‘Qinguan’apple in response to Marssonina coronaria. South African Journal of Botany. 2012, DOI:10.1016/j.sajb.2012.01.005.

  ⒂Yan Xu, Tengfei Xu, Xiaochen Zhao, Ying Zou, Zhiqian Li, Fengju Li, Jiang Xiang, Yuejin Wang. Co-expression of VpROMT gene from Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata with VpSTS in tobacco plants and its effects on the accumulation of pterostilbene. Protoplasma. 2012, 249: 819-833.

  ⒃Yihe Yu Weirong Xu  Shengyi Wang Yan Xu Hui'e Li Yuejin Wang Shuxiu Li VpRFP1, a novel C4C4-type RING finger protein gene from Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata, functions as a transcriptional activator in defence response of grapevine. Journal of Experimental Botany. 2011, 62(15): 5671-5682.

  ⒄Xin Guan, Heqing Zhao, Yan Xu, Yuejin Wang. Transient expression of glyoxal oxidase from the Chinese wild grape Vitis pseudoreticulata can suppress powdery mildew in a susceptible genotype. Protoplasma. 2011, 248: 415-423.

  ⒅Weirong Xu, Yihe Yu, Qi Zhou, Jiahua Ding, Lingmin Dai, Xiaoqing Xie, Yan Xu, Chaohong Zhang, Yuejin Wang. Expression pattern, genomic structure and promoter analysis of the gene encoding stilbene synthase from Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata. Journal of Experimental Botany. 2011, 62(8):2745-2761.

  ⒆Yan Xu, Hao Yu, Mingyang He, Yazhou Yang, Yuejin Wang. Isolation and expression analysis of a novel pathogenesis-related protein 10 gene from Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata induced by Uncinula necator. Biologia. 2010, 65 (4): 653-659.

  ⒇Hui’e Li,Yan Xu,Yu Xiao,Ziguo Zhu,Xiaoqing Xie,Heqing Zhao,Yuejin Wang. Expression and functional analysis of two genes encoding transcription factors, VpWRKY1 and VpWRKY2, isolated from Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata. Planta. 2010, 232: 1325-1337.

  (21) Yan Xu, Yue-jin Wang. Construction of a cDNA Library of Vitis pseudoreticulata native to China inoculated with Uncinula necator and the analysis of potential defence-related expressed sequence tags (ESTs)。 South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture. 2009, 30(1):65-71.

  (22)Yan Xu, Yue-jin Wang. Molecular cloning and characterization of novel heat shock protein 90 gene from a wild Vitis pseduoreticulata native to China. Biologia 2009, 64 (1):  102-106.

  9. Mailing Address:

  409 Room, Department of Pomology, College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, No. 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.

  Phone: +86-29-87082391

  Fax: +86-29-87082613

  E-Mail: yan.xu@nwsuaf.edu.cn