Small Grain Genetics
Improving small grain production using techniques of conventional breeding and molecular genetics and genomics
Advancing Research for Improved Production of Small Grains in the Texas High Plains and Rolling Plains
The Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center small grains research program uses a range of new and emerging technologies to produce major improvements in crop resilience including:
- Drought and heat tolerance
- Greenbug (GB)
- Hessian fly (HF)
- Russian wheat aphid (RWA)
- Wheat curl mite (WCM)
- Leaf, stem, and stripe rust
- Streak mosaic virus
Funding Entities
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Monocot and Cropping System programs; Texas Wheat Producer Board; Triticeae – Coordinated Agricultural Project (T-CAP) – University of Minnesota; Monsanto Beachell Borlaug International Scholarship – Texas A&M AgriLife Research; Borlaug International Scholar, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Texas A&M University; USAID – University of California-Davis; Bayer Crop Science
Faculty
Junli Zhang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor | Small Grains Genetics, Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center
Current Research
Advancing Wheat Genetics for Resilient and Efficient Agriculture
The Small Grains Genetics Program is committed to developing advanced genetic materials that enhance stress tolerance, fertilizer use efficiency, and end-use quality in wheat. Our core mission is to deliver pre-breeding resources and cutting-edge tools to support continuous wheat improvement across Texas.
We collaborate with wheat breeders, physiologists, pathologists, and entomologists to achieve these goals through:
- Germplasm Screening: Evaluating wheat germplasm collections and wild relatives for resistance to diseases and pests, improved stress tolerance, and enhanced nutritional traits.
- Gene Discovery and Editing: Creating mapping populations and cloning genes of interest to enable precise gene editing and insertion—minimizing linkage drag and maximizing selection efficiency through gene pyramiding.
- Breeding Efficiency Tools: Developing molecular markers and methodologies that accelerate breeding cycles and improve selection accuracy.
- Translational Research: Applying insights from model plants, such as Arabidopsis and rice, to small grains, using gene-editing to modify key developmental pathways and generate desirable traits for wheat improvement.
