Research
My research interest is to study the origins of root architectures diversity in crops. By combining knowledge from biology, statistics, and computer science:
(1) I develop a computing pipeline to describe and measure the diversity of root architectures using mathematical shape descriptors.
(2) I dissect the genetic components that regulate root architectures under water-sufficient and drought conditions.
(3) I question whether the maternal effect of seed size and kin recognition of root neighbors contribute to root architecture diversity
Selected Publications
Xie, L., Klein, P., Crosby, K., & Jifon, J. (2019). A Genotyping-by-sequencing Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Map and Genetic Analysis of Root Traits in an Interspecific Tomato Population, Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 144(6), 394-404.
Education
2018 Admission to the PhD Program in Plant Biology Department at the University of Georgia, GA, USA
2016 M.S. Horticultural Science, Texas A&M University, TX, USA
2014 B.S. Agronomy, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
2012 Exchange Student, Japanese, Saga University, Kyushu, Japan
Other Information
2020 Jaworski Travel Award, Department of Plant Biology, UGA
2020 Travel Scholarship for Root Short Course, University of Florida
2016 Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Texas Plant Protection Association
