Weiwei Gao: Plant Physiology First Author

Weiwei Gao, first author of “miR2105 and the kinase OsSAPK10 co-regulate OsbZIP86 to mediate drought-induced ABA biosynthesis in rice”

Current Position: Ph.D. candidate at South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Guangzhou, China)

Education: M.S. at South China Agricultural University

Non-scientific Interests: reading, traveling, and playing badminton

Brief bio: I am interested in plant science, particularly in the relationship between basic research and improving crop traits for yield stability. I joined Dr. Chen’s lab at National Engineering Research Center of Plant Space Breeding, South China Agricultural University since 2014. Since my master’s degree, I focused on QTL mapping for traits of grain shape and screening of molecular markers related to rice grain traits. To deeply identify new genes that regulate rice grain yield. I joined Dr. Zhang’s lab and started my Ph.D. program at South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2018. During this period, I deeply explore the roles of miRNAs in rice grain yield. In this study, we reported a working model of how OsbZIP86 is regulated by miR2105 and OsSAPK10 to control ABA biosynthesis through OsNCED3 and functions in regulating drought tolerance in rice. In addition, I also worked on how the rice grain yield controled by nitrogen use efficiency through miRNAs during my doctoral studies. I’m completing my study on the genetic basis and molecular mechanism of miRNA regulation of nitrogen use efficiency. I hope to solve important scientific questions in the field of rice yield control and provide candidate gene resources for improving agronomic performance of rice.