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8 CapitalPress.com July 29, 2016 ‘Cyber breeder’ improves wheat varieties Zhiwu Zhang sorts through field, molecular data to help breeding By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press PULLMAN, Wash. — Zhiwu Zhang rarely actually touches wheat, but his work helps put better varieties of the popular grain into grow- ers’ hands. As a statistical geneticist — he calls himself a “cyber breeder” — at Washington State University in Pullman, Zhang combines information from wheat breeders and re- searchers who identify molec- ular markers. Wheat farmers are most concerned with yield, quality and production cost, all traits determined by how genetics and the environment interact, Zhang said. “There are hundreds and even thousands of genes as- sociated with yield,” he said. “Gathering favorite genes to- gether takes time. Fortunate- ly, DNA sequencing technol- ogies provide the opportunity to pinpoint where those genes are on the genome.” Zhiwu Zhang Title: Assistant professor, Washington State University; Washing- ton Wheat Distinguished Professorship for Statistical Genetics Age: 55 Current location: Pullman, Wash. Hometown: Shulan, China Education: Bachelor’s degree in animal science and master’s degree in animal breeding and genetics, Jilin Agriculture Univer- sity, Changchun, China; Ph.D. in animal breeding and genetics, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Ph.D. in statistical genetics, Michigan State University Family: Married; son James, 26; daughter Joia, 14 Website: http://css.wsu.edu/zhiwu-zhang/ Deoxyribonucleic acid — called DNA — is a molecule that carries the genetic in- AI.OW16-4/#8 structions within most living organisms. Attributes such as drought tolerance are located at speciic spots on the lat- tice-like structure of DNA. “We’re trying to get them together, turn this big data into some knowledge,” he said. “Then ield breeders can turn it into a variety that can really increase the income of the farmer.” Zhang is developing the computer programs and da- tabases necessary for wheat breeders to sort through mil- lions of data points associated with genetic markers and gene sequences, said Rich Koenig, associate dean of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, director of WSU Extension and interim chairman of the crop and soil sciences depart- ment. “The explosion of data has created a need for ‘genetic software engineers’ to enable breeders to sort through all of these data and make good breeding and selection deci- sions,” Koenig said. Zhang’s work should help breeders better select lines that have the potential to outperform other cultivars in the ield, WSU winter wheat breeder Arron Carter said. “Effectively, we are test- ing better material under ield conditions, which should have higher yield potential, better disease resistance and better Matthew Weaver/Capital Press Washington State University assistant professor Zhiwu Zhang stands in the middle of his lab in Pullman. As a statistical geneti- cist, Zhang compiles information from ield breeders and molecular DNA sequencing to enable wheat breeders to improve the varieties they develop. end-use quality,” Carter said. “It will speed up the process a little bit, but mainly helps us get the best material out to the ield as a starting point.” Breeders will still have to do years of ield testing to ensure stability across loca- tions and years, Carter said. Zhang’s work helps identify the best wheat lines early in the process, allowing breed- ers to begin making crosses sooner. Zhang has an agricultural background. He raised ani- mals and worked in the ield from childhood in China, and got his bachelor’s degree in animal science. He went on to study genetics, statistics and computer science in get- ting his master’s degree and Ph.D.s and postdoctoral train- ing. His irst job was predicting breeding values, helping beef breeders select bulls for better yield, carcass quality and less calving dificulty. Zhang’s second job was to develop statistical meth- ods and computing tools to dissect the genetic architec- ture of key complex traits in maize. Zhang developed a compressed model that re- duced computing time from weeks to hours. Jobs such as Zhang’s did not exist a decade ago, Koe- nig said. Now, they are in high demand among modern breeding programs. “Zhiwu has an interna- tional reputation and is rec- ognized for developing lead- ing platforms to process and screen genetic information,” Koenig said. Zhang hopes his work will increase farmers’ net in- come and be environmentally friendly and sustainable. Sequencing wheat vari- eties is currently limited by cost. The wheat genome is ive times bigger than the human genome, with many gaps, Zhang said. “Mathematically and ac- curately illing those gaps is critical to transform DNA sequencing into a useful tool for wheat breeding,” he said. The story irst appeared Jan. 1, 2016.