Tomato Genome Research and Genetic Improvement

The team is headed by Professor Ye Zhibiao. In 2014, the team was selected into the innovation research groups of the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province. At present, five long-term research directions have been established, namely, tomato genomics research, genetic analysis of tomato yield traits, molecular basis of the formation and regulation of tomato quality traits, molecular biology of tomato disease- and stress resistance, and tomato germplasm innovation and genetic improvement research

The team cloned the structural resistance gene, the hair gene Wo, for the first time in the world, and put forward the important theory that Wo promotes the mechanism of multicellular hair generation by regulating the cyclin. It also completed the sequencing of whole genomes of cultivated tomato and currant tomato and the drawing of high-density variant tomato map, which provide abundant genomic data for the biological research and genetic improvement of tomato. The team selected new varieties such as “Hua-tomato No.2, No.3 and Hua-tomato No.11, NO.12, NO.13” for wide application in Hubei, Shandong, and Yunnan provinces which has yielded remarkable economic and social benefits.