Basic information

DAI Mingqiu, a professor and doctoral supervisor at the College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, has been selected for the Key Talent Project of the Ministry of Education (Distinguished Professor) and the National Overseas High-level Talent Program (Youth Program). Served as the vice dean of the College of Life Sciences and Technology, the director of the Department of Biotechnology, the director of the Genetics Teaching and Research Section, a member of the guidance group for the "Shishan Talent Class" of the Ministry of Education's Basic Discipline Top Student Training Program 2.0 Base. Holding Council Member of the Biological Agriculture Branch of the Chinese Society for Biotechnology (CSBT), Council Member of the Chinese Society for Plant Biology (CSPB), Council Member of the Hubei Botanical Society, Council Member of the Wuhan Botanical Society.

Educational background

2000.09-2007.03 Doctor of Science Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University

1996.09-2000.06 Bachelor's degree, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University

Work experience

2013.04- Present: Professor and Doctoral Supervisor, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement

2019.09-2020.09 Visiting Scientist, Cornell University (Edward Buckler lab), USA

2009.07-2013.03 Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate Research Scientist, Yale University, USA

June 2007 - June 2009, Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University, USA

Relying on disciplines and key laboratories

Biology: A discipline included in the National "Double First-Class" initiative, Class A (Top 5% nationwide)

Agricultural Sciences: ESI Top 1%

National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement

Approved for construction by the state in 1992, the laboratory passed the national acceptance inspection and was officially opened to the public in 1994. It has been consecutively rated as an outstanding national key laboratory for five times in 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 (exempted from evaluation), and 2016 (all evaluations were excellent). It is the only national key laboratory in the field of agricultural research to have received this honor. It was selected as one of the first batch of benchmark national key laboratories in 2022.

Research direction

Taking corn as the main research object, through multi-omics and in combination with genetics and molecular biology, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of major abiotic stress conditions such as drought resistance, heat tolerance, and salt-alkali tolerance in plants are revealed. Stress resistance molecular markers are explored and developed, and new breeding algorithms such as efficient genomic selection are developed to create new stress resistance germplasms. Provide new resources and methods for high-resistance and high-yield breeding of corn. The key scientific issues of the research:

1. How do plants regulate their stress resistance?

2. How do plants strike a balance between growth and development and their stress resistance?

Representive Publications

1.        Zhang H, Wu J, Peng W, Chen Y, Dai M^*. Natural variations in ZmCCT2 regulate maize mesocotyl elongation and higher altitude adaptation. Science Bulletin, 2025. S2095-9273(25)00258-0. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2025.03.027.

2.        Zhang Y*, Wu X*, Wang X, Dai M^*, Peng Y^*. Crop root system architecture in drought response. Journal of Genetics and Genomics. 2025;52(1):4-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.05.001

3.        Zhang F, Rosental L, Ji B, Brotman Y^*, Dai M^*. Metabolite-mediated adaptation of crops to drought and the acquisition of tolerance. Plant Journal. 2024. 118(3):626-644. doi: 10.1111/tpj.16634.

4.        He Z*, Zhang J*, Jia H, Zhang S, Sun X, Nishawy E, Zhang H^*, Dai M^*. Genome-wide identification and analyses of ZmAPY genes reveal their roles involved in maize development and abiotic stress responses. Molecular Breeding. 2024. 44(5):37. doi: 10.1007/s11032-024-01474-9.

5.         He Z*, Zhang P*, Jia H, Zhang S, Sun X, Nishawy E, Sun X^*, Dai M^*. Regulatory mechanisms and breeding strategies for crop drought resistance. New Crops. 2024; doi: 10.1016/j.ncrops.2024.100029

6.        Sun X*, Xiang Y*, Dou N*, Zhang H*, Pei S, Franco AV, Menon M, Monier B, Ferebee T, Liu T, Liu S, Gao Y, Wang J, Terzaghi W, Yan J, Hearne S, Li L^*, Li F^*, Dai M^*. The role of transposon inverted repeats in balancing drought tolerance and yield-related traits in maize. Nature Biotechnology. 2023. 41(1):120-127.

7.        Mu Y, Dai M^*. Signpost in the maze: high-quality genome of drought-resistant maize germplasm released. Science China-life Sciences. 2023. 66(9):2196-2197.

8.        Zhang P, Dai M^*. CircRNA: A rising star in plant biology. Journal of Genetics and Genomics. 2022. S1673-8527(22)00155-2.

9.        Zhang F*, Wu J*, Sade N, Wu S, Egbaria A, Fernie AR, Yan J, Qin F, Chen W^*, Brotman Y^*, Dai M^*. Genomic basis underlying the metabolome-mediated drought adaptation of maize. Genome Biology. 2021. 22(1):260.

10.    Wu X*, Feng H*, Wu D, Yan S, Zhang P, Wang W, Zhang J, Ye J, Dai G, Fan Y, Li W, Song B, Geng Z, Yang W, Chen G, Qin F, Terzaghi W, Stitzer M, Li L, Xiong L, Yan J, Buckler E, Yang W^*, Dai M^*. Using high-throughput multiple optical phenotyping to decipher the genetic architecture of maize drought tolerance. Genome Biology. 2021. 22(1):185.

11.    Zhang H*, Sun X, Dai M^*. Improving crop drought resistance with plant growth regulators and rhizobacteria: Mechanisms, applications, and perspectives. Plant Communications. 2021. 2:100228.

12.    Zhang H*, Xiang Y*, He N, Liu X, Liu H, Fang L, Zhang F, Sun X, Zhang D, Li X, Terzaghi W, Yan J, Dai M^*. Enhanced Vitamin C Production Mediated by an ABA-Induced PTP-Like Nucleotidase Improves Drought Tolerance of Arabidopsis and Maize. Molecular Plant. 2020. 13(5):760-776.

13.    Yu X*, Dong J*, Deng Z, Jiang Y, Wu C, Qin X, Terzaghi W, Chen H, Dai M^* and Deng XW^*. Arabidopsis PP6 phosphatases dephosphorylate PIF proteins to repress photomorphogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019. 116(40):20218-20225.

14.    He Z*, Wu J*, Sun X, Dai M^*. The maize clade A PP2C phosphatases play critical roles in multiple stress responses. IJMS 2019. 20(14). pii: E3573.

15.    Zhang P*, Fan Y*, Sun X*, Chen L, Terzaghi W, Bucher E, Li L, Dai M^*. A large-scale circular RNA profiling reveals universal molecular mechanisms responsive to drought stress in maize and Arabidopsis. Plant Journal. 2019. 98(4):697-713.

16.    Luo X*, Wang B*, Gao S*, Zhang F, Terzaghi W, Dai M^*. Genome-wide association study dissects the genetic bases of salt tolerance in maize seedlings. JIPB. 2019. 61(6):658-674.

17.    He* Z, Zhong* J, Sun X, Wang B, Terzaghi W, Dai M^*. The maize ABA receptors ZmPYL8, 9 and 12 facilitate plant drought resistance. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2018. 9:422.

18.    Xiang Y*, Sun X*, Gao S, Qin F, Dai M^*. Deletion of an endoplasmic reticulum stress response element in a ZmPP2C-A gene facilitates drought tolerance of maize seedlings. Molecular Plant. 2017. 10:456-469.

19.     Dai M, Xue Q, Mccray T, Chen F, Margavage K, Lee J, Nezames C, Guo L, Terzaghi W, Wan J, Deng XW, Wang H^*. The Arabidopsis PP6 Phosphatase Regulates ABI5 Phosphorylation and ABA Signaling. The Plant Cell. 2013. 25(2):517-34.

20.     Dai M, Terzaghi W, and Wang H^*. Multifaceted roles of Arabidopsis PP6 phosphatase in regulating cellular signaling and plant development. Plant Signaling & Behavior. 2013. 8(1).

21.     Dai M, Zhang C, Kania U, Chen F, Xue Q, Mccray T, Li G, Qin G, Wakeley M, Terzaghi W, Wan J, Zhao Y, Xu J, Friml J, Deng X, and Wang H^*. A PP6-type phosphatase holoenzyme directly regulates PIN phosphorylation and auxin efflux in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell. 2012.24(6): 2497-514.

22.     Dai M*, Hu Y*, Ma Q, Zhao Y and Zhou DX^*. Functional analysis of rice HOMEOBOX4 (Oshox4) gene reveals a negative function in gibberellin responses. Plant Molecular Biology. 2008. 66(3): 289-301.

23.     Dai M, Hu Y, Zhao Y, Liu H and Zhou DX^*. A WUSCHEL-LIKE HOMEOBOX gene represses a YABBY gene expression required for rice leaf development. Plant Physiology. 2007. 144(1): 380-90.

24.     Dai M, Zhao Y, Ma Q, Hu Y, Hedden P, Zhang Q and Zhou DX^*. The rice YABBY1 gene is involved in the feedback regulation of gibberellin metabolism. Plant Physiology. 2007. 144(1): 121-33.

25.     Dai M, Hu Y, Zhao Y and Zhou DX^*. Regulatory Networks Involving YABBY Genes in Rice Shoot Development. Plant Signaling & behavior. 2007. 2(5): 399-400.

Partial Joint Publicaionts

1.        Liu H, Liu J, Zhai Z, Dai M, Tian F, Wu Y, Tang J, Lu Y, Wang H, Jackson D, Yang X, Qin F, Xu M, Fernie A, Zhang Z, Yan J. Maize2035: A decadal vision for intelligent maize breeding. Molecular Plant. 2025;18(2):313-332. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.012.

2.        Guo Z, Wang S, Zhang F, Xiang D, Yang J, Li D, Bai B, Dai M, Luo J, Xiong L^*. Common and specific genetic basis of metabolite-mediated drought responses in rice. Stress Biology. 2024;4(1):6.

3.        Qin X, Tian S, Zhang W, Zheng Q, Wang H, Feng Y, Lin Y, Tang J, Wang Y, Yan J, Dai M, Zheng Y, Yue B^*. The main restorer Rf3 of maize S type cytoplasmic male sterility encodes a PPR protein that functions in reduction of the transcripts of orf355. Molecular Plant. 2021. S1674-2052 (21) 00407-X.

4.        Liang X, Xu X, Wang Z, He L, Zhang K, Liang B, Ye J, Shi J, Wu X, Dai M, Yang W^*. StomataScorer: a portable and high-throughput leaf stomata trait scorer combined with deep learning and an improved CV model. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 2022. 20(3):577-591.

5.        田士可、秦心儿、张文亮、董雪、代明球、岳兵^*. 玉米雄性不育突变体mi-ms-3的遗传分析及分子鉴定. 植物学报. 2020. 46(12)：1991-1996.

6.        Chen L, Zhang P, Fan Y, Lu Q, Li Q, Yan J, Muehlbauer GJ, Schnable PS, Dai M, Li L^*. Circular RNAs mediated by transposons are associated with transcriptomic and phenotypic variation in maize. New Phytologist. 2018. 217:1292-1306.

7.        Duan L, Han J, Guo Z, Tu H, Yang P, Zhang D, Fan Y, Chen G, Xiong L, Dai M, Williams K, Corke F, Doonan JH, Yang W^*. Novel Digital Features Discriminate Between Drought Resistant and Drought Sensitive Rice Under Controlled and Field Conditions. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2018. 9:492.

8.        Zhu N, Cheng S, Liu X, Du H, Dai M, Zhou DX, Yang W, Zhao Y^*. The R2R3-type MYB gene OsMYB91 has a function in coordinating plant growth and salt stress tolerance in rice. Plant Science. 2015. 236:146-56.

9.        Sassi M, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Wang J, Dhonukshe P, Blilou I, Dai M, Li J, Gong X, Jaillais Y, Yu X, Traas J, Ruberti I, Wang H, Scheres B, Vernoux T, Xu J^*. COP1 mediates the coordination of root and shoot growth by light through modulation of PIN1- and PIN2-dependent auxin transport in Arabidopsis. Development. 2012. 139(18): 3402-12.

10.    Chen F, Shi X, Chen L, Dai M, Zhou Z, Shen Y, Li J, Li G, Wei N, Deng XW^*. Phosphorylation of FAR-RED ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL1 Is a Key Mechanism Defining Signaling Dynamics of Phytochrome A under Red and Far-Red Light in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell. 2012. 24(5): 1907-20

11.    Li G, Siddiqui H, Teng Y, Lin R, Wan XY, Li J, Lau OS, Ouyang X, Dai M, Wan J, Devlin PF, Deng XW, Wang H^*. Coordinated transcriptional regulation underlying the circadian clock in Arabidopsis. Nat Cell Biology. 2011. 13(5): 616-22.

12.    Lee JH, Yoon HJ, Terzaghi W, Martinez C, Dai M, Li J, Byun MO, Deng XW^*. DWA1 and DWA2, two Arabidopsis DWD protein components of CUL4-based E3 ligases, act together as negative regulators in ABA signal transduction. The Plant Cell. 2010. 22(6): 1716-32.

13.    Zhao Y, Hu Y, Dai M, Huang L, Zhou DX^*. The WUSCHEL-Related Homeobox Gene WOX11 Is Required to Activate Shoot-Borne Crown Root Development in Rice. The Plant Cell. 2009. 21(3): 736-48.

14.    Park HJ, Ding L, Dai M, Lin R, Wang H^*. Multisite phosphorylation of Arabidopsis HFR1 by casein kinase II and a plausible role in regulating its degradation rate. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2008. 283(34):23264-73.

15.    Hu H, Dai M, Yao J, Xiao B, Li X, Zhang Q, Xiong L^*. Overexpressing a NAM, ATAF, and CUC (NAC) transcription factor enhances drought resistance and salt tolerance in rice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006. 103(35): 12987-92.

Patents Granted or Applied For:

1.       Dai Mingqiu, Zhang Hui. A Protein for Enhancing Plant Drought Resistance and Its Applications. Patent No.: ZL 201910884632.1

1. Wu Xi, Feng Hui, Yang Wanneng, Dai Mingqiu. Maize Drought-Resistant      Gene ZmcPGM2 and Its Applications. Patent No.: ZL 202110425632.2

2. Dai Mingqiu, Zhang Fei, Wu Jinfeng. ZmGLK44 Gene Regulating      Maize Water Use Efficiency Under Drought and Its Applications. Patent No.:      ZL 202110646958.8

3. Dai Mingqiu, He Neng. Drought-Inducible Promoter ZmRD101 of      Maize and Its Applications. Patent No.: ZL 202110648032.2

4. Dai Mingqiu, Sun Xiaopeng, Xiang Yanli, Dou Nannan. Maize      Drought-Resistant Gene ZmMYB38 and Its Applications. Patent No.: ZL      202110795898.6

5. Dai Mingqiu, Sun Xiaopeng, Xiang Yanli, Dou Nannan. Drought-Resistant      Marker DRESH8 in Maize and Its Applications. Patent Application      No.: 202110801680.7

6. Dai Mingqiu, Li Xingzhi, He Neng, Qi Lili. Maize Drought-Tolerant      Gene ZmMAPKKK1 and Its Molecular Marker *InDel-720* with      Applications. Patent Application No.: 2023100922944

7. Dai Mingqiu, Zhang Hui, Wu Jinfeng. Maize Mesocotyl Elongation Gene ZmCCT11      and Its Molecular Marker with Applications. Patent Application No.:      2023117189607

8. Dai Mingqiu, Zhang Fei, Ji Boming. Small Peptide SP07      Regulating Crop Drought Tolerance and Its Applications. Patent Application      No.: 2024105044739

9. Dai Mingqiu, Zhang Fei, Ji Boming. Small Peptide SP09      Regulating Crop Drought Tolerance and Its Applications. Patent Application      No.: 2024105044936

Research Projects:

1. National Natural Science      Foundation of China (Innovation Research Group), 32321005,  "Synergistic Regulation and Improvement of High Yield and Quality in  Maize," 2024.01–2028.12, Participant (Key Member).

2. National Key R&D Program of China, 2023YFF1001302,  "Regulatory Mechanisms of Maize Root Plasticity Development Under Drought Stress," 2023.12–2028.11, Subproject Leader.

3. Yazhou Bay Seed Lab & China Seed Group Joint Project (Competitive Funding), B23YQ1510, "Drought-Tolerant Gene Mining and Marker Development," 2022.12–2025.12, Subproject Leader.

4. National Key R&D Program (International Cooperation), 2022YFE0100500,  "Metabolic Landscape Analysis of Maize Drought Response and      Development of Drought-Resistant Germplasm," 2022.06–2024.12,  Principal Investigator (PI).

5. Longyun Program, "Mechanisms of Environmental Adaptation and  Genetic Improvement in Maize," 2021.09–2023.09, PI.

6. NSFC International Cooperation Project, 32061143031,  "Mining Drought-Resistant Genes in Maize Using Novel Germplasm and Multi-Omics for Breeding Applications," 2021.01–2025.12, PI.

7. Central University Innovation Fund, 2662020SKY009, "Genetic Basis of Drought Resistance in Maize via Multi-Omics and Multi-Dimensional Phenotyping for Breeding," 2020.05–2023.04, PI.

8. Wuhan Science and Technology Plan, 2020020601012258, "Genetic Analysis of Drought Resistance via Metabolomics and Breeding Applications in Maize," 2020.08–2022.12, PI.

9. NSFC General Program, 31971954, "Functional Characterization, Natural Variation, and Mechanism of Maize Mesocotyl Elongation Gene ZmCCT11,"      2020.01–2023.12, PI.

10. Cross-Crop Collaborative Project, "Functional and Natural Variation Studies of Circular RNAs in Crop Drought Resistance," 2018.04–2020.12, PI.

11. National Key Technology R&D Program, 2015BAD02B01,  "Gene Mapping and Functional Marker Development for Key Agronomic Traits in Maize," 2017.07–2019.12, Subproject Leader.

12. NSFC International Cooperation Project, 31561143014,   "Exploration of Drought-Tolerant Gene Resources in Maize," 2016.01–2020.12, Subproject Leader.

13. NSFC General Program, 31671256, "Protein Phosphatase 6 (PP6) in Regulating Arabidopsis Dark Morphogenesis," 2017.01–2020.12, PI.

14. National Key R&D Program, 2016YFD0100605,  "Molecular Basis of Pest/Stress Resistance in Major Crops," 2016.07–2020.12, Subproject Leader.

15. State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement Operational Fund, 32113026, "Genetic Basis of Maize Drought Resistance," 2013.04–2020.12, PI.

16. Huazhong Agricultural University Start-Up Grant, 108020002,  "Genetic Basis of Abiotic Stress Resistance in Maize,"  2013.04–2018.03, PI.

17. Central University Innovation Fund, 2014PY056, 2662015PY170, "Functional Study of Plant Phosphatases in Drought Resistance," 2014.01–2018.12, PI.

18. National Young Talents Program, "Plant Biology," 2014–2018, PI.

Teaching:

Undergraduate Courses:

• General Biology

• Genetics

• Plant Production  Practicum

Graduate Courses:

• Advanced Genetics

• Progress in Life Sciences

Teaching Reform Projects:

1. Ideological and Political Education Integration: General Biology (2018, University-Level,  Completed).

2. Industry-Education  Integration Demonstration Course: Plant Production Practicum (2021, University-Level, Rated "Excellent").

3. Exploration of Innovative Talent Training in Genetics for Biological Seed Industry (2021,  University-Level, Completed).

4. Labor and Agrarian Education Curriculum Development (2021, University-Level, Ongoing).

5. "Dual-Chain  Integration" Training Model for Professional Degree Postgraduates in  Crop Biological Breeding (2022, Provincial-Level, Ongoing).

Teaching Awards & Honors:

2024: HZAU Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement Award

2022: Outstanding Advisor, National Undergraduate Life Sciences Competition

2022: Outstanding Advisor, China Graduate Rural Revitalization Innovation Contest

2021: Huazhong Agricultural University "Teaching Excellence Award"

2022: Outstanding Teacher in Ethics and Mentorship, Huazhong Agricultural University

2022: Outstanding Communist Party Member, College of Life Science and Technology

2022: Outstanding Innovation/Entrepreneurship Advisor, Huazhong Agricultural University

2018–2022: Outstanding Thesis Advisor (Multiple Years for Master’s/Undergraduate Theses)

2021–2022: Outstanding Advisor for Student Research Fund (SRF) Projects

2018: Excellent Teaching Team Award for Field Internship

2017: Third Prize, Young Faculty Teaching Competition (College Level)

Graduate Recruitment:

The lab welcomes applications from students pursuing M.Sc./Ph.D. degrees (academic or professional) in Plant Stress Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, or Bioinformatics. Prospective candidates (including postdocs) interested in plant stress biology are encouraged to contact: Email: mingqiudai@mail.hzau.edu.cn