Harnessing Maize Developmental Genetics for Climate‑Resilience Agriculture

About the Speaker

Dr. Zongliang Chen is a Research Associate at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University, where he works with Dr. Andrea Gallavotti to study the genetic and cis regulatory mechanisms governing maize development and regeneration. His research examines how fundamental regulatory processes shape plant architecture, regeneration capacity, and reproductive success, which are key traits influencing the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems. 

Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. in Crop Genetics and Breeding from China Agricultural University in 2014, following M.S. and B.A. training in plant science. His research spans developmental biology, plant genomics, and quantitative genetics, including studies of stem cell regulation, mitochondrial RNA processing, and seed development. He is currently a Senior Scientist on the NSF funded PlantTransform project, which aims to overcome barriers in maize transformation and regeneration and support more sustainable crop improvement. His work has been published in Cell, Nature Plants, Nature Communications and related journals. 

Abstract

Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves pose a serious challenge to maize growth and yield stability. Heat stress disrupts plant development by altering hormone pathways including auxin, ethylene, and ABA, reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and epigenetic regulation. Dissecting these responses provides insight into the regulatory networks required for growth and reproduction under high temperatures. Translating this knowledge into improved cultivars has been limited by the low efficiency, high labor demand, and strong genotype dependence of maize transformation. Recent advances have addressed this constraint by combining morphogenic regulators such as BABY BOOM and the GRF‑GIF fusion gene with CRISPR‑based genome editing, enabling high transformation efficiency across diverse inbred lines. Integrating stress biology with these transformation platforms allows rapid testing and deployment of thermotolerance traits, supporting the development of maize varieties better suited to warming climates and more sustainable agricultural systems.