Zhiquan Qiang

　　 　　

1. Personal information

Qiang Zhiquan, male, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Master's Supervisor. He graduated from China Agricultural University with a Ph.D. in Cell Biology in June 2022, and joined the faculty of Northwest A&F University in July of the same year. He serves as a peer reviewer for journals such as Horticulture Research, Plant Cell Reports and Frontiers in Plant Science.

2. Research Interest

Screening and functional validation of stress-resistance genes in perennial ryegrass, Physiological and molecular basis of stress resistance, evaluation and utilization of stress-resistant germplasm.

3.Courses offered

Undergraduate course: Plant Cell Biology; Postgraduate course: Research Methods of Grassland Science.

4. Project

(1) NFSC-Young Scientists Fund (32301503), 2024-01 to 2026-12, Leader.

(2) Research Initiation Grant of Northwest A&F University (2452022126), 2022-07 to 2025-06, Leader.

(3) Postdoctoral Research Project of Shaanxi Province (2023BSHEDZH127), 2023-10 to 2024-10, Leader.

(4) Research Project on AI-Empowered Education and Teaching, 2025-05 to 2025-07, Leader.

(5) NFSC-General Fund (32371784), 2024-01 to 2027-12, Participant.

(6) NFSC-Major Research Plan (91854119), 2019-01 to 2021-12, Participant.

(7) NFSC-General Fund, (31671608), 2017-01 to 2020-12, Participant.

5. Enrollment Information

We invite applications for graduate studies from students with backgrounds in grassland science, biology, agriculture, horticulture, or related fields. Candidates with demonstrated knowledge and experimental skills in molecular biology and/or plant physiology are strongly preferred. Outstanding undergraduate students may also join our laboratory's science and technology innovation projects. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact us via email for further details.

6. Academic achievements

[1] Qiang ZQ., Xie WF., Zeng Z., Zhao YA., Ma DF and Qin T*. (2025) An annexin protein LpANN5 enhances drought and salt stress tolerance in perennial ryegrass. Hortic Plant J, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.03.001

[2] Qiang ZQ., Zeng Z, Ma DF., Li JZ., Zhao YA. and Qin T*. (2025) NAC transcription factor LpNAC22 positively regulates drought tolerance in perennial ryegrass. Plant Cell Environ, 2025:1-15

[3] Xie, YF., Ma, YY., Sun, X., Liu, H*. and Qiang, ZQ^*. (2025) Comprehensive analysis of dehydrin genes reveals ZmDHN3 contributes to drought resistance in maize (Zea Mays L.). BMC Plant Biol, 25: 1186.

[4] Qiang, ZQ., Sun, HH., Ge, FH., Li, W., Li, CJ., Wang, SW., Zhang, BC., Zhu, L., Zhang, SS., Wang, XQ., Lai, JS., Qin, F., Zhou, YH. and Fu, Y^*. (2022) The transcription factor ZmMYB69 represses lignin biosynthesis by activating ZmMYB31/42 expression in maize. Plant Physiol, 189 (4): 1916-1919.

[5] Ye LL., Tang XH., Cao ZJ., Wang C., Yang JW., Qiang ZQ* and Qin T*. (2026) LpMPK6 regulates leaf color in perennial ryegrass by inhibiting LpMYBR1–modulated transcription of LpNRT1.5. J Integr Plant Biol,

[6] Xie WF, Zhao YA., Deng XW., Chen RX., Qiang ZQ., García-Caparros P., Mao TL. and Qin T*. (2024) GLABRA3-mediated trichome branching requires transcriptional repression of MICROTUBULE-DESTABILIZING PROTEIN25. Plant Physiol, 197(1): kiae563. 

[7] Xie WF., Cao ZJ., Zhao YL., Deng XW., Zhao YA., Zhang CQ., García-Caparros P., Qiang ZQ. and Qin T*. (2024) LpY3IP1 Enhances the drought and salt tolerance of perennial ryegrass by protecting the photosynthetic apparatus. Sci Hortic, 338: 113645. 

[8] Li, W., Ge, FH., Qiang, ZQ., Zhu, L., Zhang, SS., Chen, LM., Wang, XQ., Li, JS. and Fu, Y^*. (2020) Maize ZmRPH1 encodes a microtubule-associated protein that controls plant and ear height. Plant Biotechnol J, 18 (6), 1345-1347. 

[9] Wang, D., Zhang, YT., Chen, CY., Chen, RX., Bai, XC., Qiang, ZQ., Fu, JJ. and Qin T^*. (2023) The genetic variation in drought resistance in eighteen perennial ryegrass varieties and the underlying adaptation mechanisms. BMC Plant Biol, 23:451.

[10] Li, Q., Jiang WB., Jiang, ZH., Du, WX., Song, JX., Qiang, ZQ., Zhang, B., Pang, YZ^* and Wang YX^*. (2022) Transcriptome and functional analyses reveal ERF053 from Medicago falcata as key regulator in drought resistances. Frontn Plant Sci, 13: 995754.

[11] Miao CC, Cao ZJ, Zeng Z, Ye LL, Chen RX, Tang XH, Qiao WT, Wang J, Qiang ZQ, Qin T: LpBPM5.6 regulates the ideal turfgrass architecture by influencing LpARG1 stability in perennial ryegrass. Plant Physiol 2025, 199(2): kiaf480. 

[12] Qiang, Z., Liang, Y., Yu, Z., Du, Y., Zhang, S., Zhu, W., Zhang, L^*. (2016) Cloning and functional analysis of WZY2-1 gene in wheat. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 42 (8), 1253-1258.

[13] Qiang, Z., Yang W., Zhang, S., Yu, Z., Shi X., Wang, X., Zhu, W., Zhang, L^*. (2018) Heterologous expression of WZY2-1 effects drought resistance of Arabidopsis plants. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 27 (06), 92-99.

7. Invention Patent

[1] LpBPM5.6 Gene for Regulating Plant Architecture of Perennial Ryegrass, Low-Expression Vector, Construction Method and Application Thereof, October 22, 2024, China, ZL202411476149.7, Second Inventor.

8. Awards

2025 National College Student Life Science Competition, National First Prize (Instructor).

2025 National College Student Life Science Competition, Shaanxi Province Special Prize (Instructor).

2025 Third Prize in the Young Faculty Lecture Competition, College of Grassland and Agro-Forestry Sciences.

2026 Third Prize in the Laboratory Safety Skills Competition, Northwest A&F University (Instructor).

9. Contact Details

Mailing Address: College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China

Email: qiangsir0934@qq.com