Dr. Wen-Xian Liu now serves as an Associate Professor in the College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou. He did his B. Sc and M. Sc in Agronomy at Northwestern Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling working on genetic diversity analysis in natural populations of Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng. He obtained his Ph.D. in Developmental Biology (plant) from the Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, where he studied the molecular mechanism of gene expression regulation and oil synthesis in rice seed.

He then moved to the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing for his postdoctoral research and worked on the molecular mechanism of protein elicitor PevD1 on disease resistance in tobacco. He had visited and studied in the New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute and Tottori University Japan in 2014 supported by the “New Zealand-China Scientist Exchange Programme” and “SAKURA Exchange Program in Science”, respectively, and visited in Zengyu Wang’s lab at Noble Research Institute, Oklahoma, USA as a visiting scholar for one year from 2018-2019. Dr. Liu’s current research is focused on the development of molecular markers and germplasm evaluation of alfalfa and common vetch, and also interested in the understanding of the key gene functions that control important aspects of plant growth and development in Medicago truncatula and alfalfa using genetics, genomics, molecular and cell biology approaches. He has published over 30 research papers including Theoretical and Applied Genetics, Molecular Breeding, Plant Cell Reports, and Frontiers in Plant Science etc.

Address:768 West Jiayuguan Road, Lanzhou 730020, P.R.China

State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems,

College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, 

Lanzhou University

Telephone:+86-15393123815 

E-mail: liuwx@lzu.edu.cn 

MAIN PUBLICATIONS: (*Corresponding author)

1.Zhengshe Zhang, Xingyi, Wei, Wenxian Liu*, Xueyang Min, Xiaoyu Jin, Boniface Ndayambaza, Yanrong Wang*. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the fatty acid desaturase genes in Medicago truncatula. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2018, 499(2), 361-367.

2.Zhengshe Zhang, Xueyang Min, Zefu Wang, Yanrong Wang, Zhipeng Liu*, Wenxian Liu*. Genome-wide development and utilization of novel intron-length polymorphic (ILP) markers in Medicago sativa. Molecular Breeding. 2017, 37(7):87.

3.Rui Dong, Deke Dong, Dong Luo, Qiang Zhou, Xutian Chai, Wengang Xie, Wenxian Liu, Yang Dong, Yanrong Wang, Zhipeng Liu*. Transcriptome analyses reveal candidate pod shattering-associated genes involved in the pod ventral sutures of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.). Frontiers in Plant Science. 2017, 8(649):1-14.

4.Wenxian Liu, Conghui Xiong, Longfeng Yan, Zhengshe Zhang, Lichao Ma, Yanrong Wang, Yajie Liu, Zhipeng Liu*. Transcriptome analyses reveal candidate genes potentially involved in Al stress response in Alfalfa. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2017, 8(26):1-11.

5.Xiaoli Tao, Lichao Ma, Zhengshe Zhang, Wenxian Liu, Zhipeng, Liu*. Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (Leguminosae). Gene Reports. 2017, 6:67-73.

6.Yang Yang, Wenxian Liu, Xiyan Mu, Suzhen Qi, Bin Fu, Chengju Wang*. Biological response of zebrafish embryos after short-term exposure to thifluzamide. Scientific Reports. 2016, 6:38485.

7.Wenxian Liu, Zheshe Zhang, Shuangyan Chen, Lichao Ma, Hucheng Wang, Rui Dong, Yanrong Wang, Zhipeng Liu*. Global transcriptome profiling analysis reveals insight into saliva-responsive genes in alfalfa. Plant Cell Reports. 2016, 35 (3):561-571.

8.Wenxian Liu, Xitao Jia, Zhimin Liu, Zhengshe Zhang, Yanrong Wang*, Zhipeng Liu, Wengang Xie. Development and characterization of transcription factor gene-derived microsatellite (TFGM) markers in Medicago truncatula and their transferability in leguminous and non-leguminous species. Molecules. 2015, 20 (5):8759-8771.

9.Zhengshe Zhang, Wenxian Liu*, Xiao Qi, Zhipeng Liu, Wengang Xie, Yanrong Wang. Genome-wide identification, expression profiling, and SSR marker development of the bZIP transcription factor family in Medicago truncatula. Biochemical Systematics & Ecology. 2015, 61:218-228.

10.Hongyan Di, Zhen Duan, Kai Luo, Daiyu Zhang, Fan Wu, Jiyu Zhang*, Wenxian Liu, Yanrong Wang. Interspecific phylogenic relationships within genus Melilotus based on nuclear and chloroplast DNA. Plos One. 2015, 10 (7):e0132596

11.Wengang Xie*, Xuhong Zhao, Jianqan Zhang, Yanrong Wang, Wenxian Liu. Assessment of genetic diversity of Siberian wild rye (Elymus sibiricus L.) germplasms with variation of seed shattering and implication for future genetic improvement. Biochemical Systematics & Ecology. 2015, 58:211-218.

12.Wenxian Liu, Hongmei Zeng*, Zhipeng Liu, Xiufen Yang, Lihua Guo and Dewen Qiu*. Mutational analysis of the Verticillium dahliae protein elicitor PevD1 identifies distinctive regions responsible for hypersensitive response and systemic acquired resistance in tobacco. Microbiological Research. 2014, 169(5-6):476-482.

13.Mingjia Chen, Caizhi Zhang, Qian Zi, Dewen Qiu, Wenxian Liu, Hongmei Zeng*. A novel elicitor identified from Magnaporthe oryzae triggers defense responses in tobacco and rice. Plant Cell Reports. 2014, 33:1865-1879.

14.Wenxian Liu, Hualiang Liu, and Leqing Qu*. Embryo-specific expression of soybean oleosin altered oil body morphogenesis and increased lipid content in transgenic rice seeds. Theoretical and applied genetics. 2013, 126(9) : 2289-2297. 

15.Lichao Ma, Yanrong Wang, Wenxian Liu, Zhipeng Liu*. Expression analysis of seed-specific genes in four angiosperm species with an emphasis on the unconserved expression patterns of homologous genes. Seed Science Research. 2013, 23(04):223-231.

16.Wenxian Liu, Hualiang Liu, Zhijian Chai, Xiuping Xu, Yanru Song and Leqing Qu*. Evaluation of seed storage protein gene 5′-UTRs on enhancing gene expression in transgenic rice seed. Theoretical and applied genetics. 2010, 121(7):1267-1274. 

17.Wenxian Liu, Weihua Liu, Jun Wu, Ainong Gao, Lihui Li*. Analysis of genetic diversity in natural populations of Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng using microsatellite (SSR) markers. Journal of Integrative Agriculture. 2010, 9(4):464-471. 

RESEARCH GRANTS:

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (31502000), Jan. 2016 – Dec. 2018

The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2016 – 8), Jan. 2016 – Jun. 2017

The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2013-82), Jan. 2013 – Jun. 2014

EDUCATION:

2006-2010 Ph.D. Developmental Biology, Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing.

2003-2006 M.Sc. Agronomy, Northwestern Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling.

1999-2003 B.Sc. Agronomy, Northwestern Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

Jun. 2012—Present: College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.

Jun. 2010—Jun. 2012: Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing.