Grass Products and Livestock Systems Team

　　 　　

Part 1: Basic Information

1.  Team introduction

The team is "grass products and livestock systems team". The main research directions include :

(1) grass-animal coupling,

(2) grass-animal integration,

(3) development and utilization of grassland resources and plants,

(4) physiology and ecology of fruity and grass complex system,

(5) herbage cultivation and grassland ecology.

2.  Team leader profile

Prof. Sun Xiuzhu is a professor and doctoral supervisor in College of Grassland Agriculture，Northwest A&F University. Director of Animal Reproduction Branch of Chinese Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Society, member of China Democratic League, and the leader of integration of grass and livestock. In 2000, he graduated from Northwest A&F University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture. In 2004, he graduated from Northwest A&F University with a master's degree in animal genetics, breeding and reproduction, and obtained a master's degree in agriculture. In 2007, he graduated with a doctoral degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from China Agricultural University. Then, he was a visiting scholar at the University of Iowa from October 2008 to June 2012. In October 2012, he worked in the College of Animal Science and Technology of Northwest A&F University as an introduced talent. In September 2018, he was transferred to the College of Grassland Agriculture. He has presided over more than 10 national, provincial and ministerial scientific research projects and published more than 30 SCI papers.

3.  Introduction of team members

Asso. Prof. Kou Jiancun is an associate professor and master supervisor in College 0f Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University. She mainly engaged in grassland science research and teaching work. She has a certain research foundation in the orchard fruit-grass coupling model and its benefits and the physiology and ecology of herbage. From 2009 to now, she has carried out a systematic and in-depth study on the suitable grass species of apple orchards on the Loess Plateau, the management mode of the orchard after planting grass, the scientific utilization mode of the herbage and its benefits for 10 consecutive years. The grass planting mode of apple orchards has been demonstrated and promoted by the Apple industry system of the Ministry of Agriculture in Shaanxi and Gansu Apple experimental stations. Secondly, there is a certain amount of research on the physiological ecology of herbage, especially the stress physiology of herbage. Presided over 13 scientific research projects, more than 1 million yuan has been allocated for scientific research; she has published more than 40 academic papers in core journals such as Frontiers in Plant Science, Photosynthesis Research, Functional Plant Biology, and Grassland Journal. She has participated in editing 5 books such as "Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics", "Agriculture in Arid Regions of China" and "Physiological and Ecological Research of Alfalfa".

Asso. Prof. Zhixin Zhang is an associate professor in College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University. Education experience: 2004-2008, Bachelor, Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities; 2009-2017, Grassland Science, Lanzhou University; 2014-2015, CSIRO (Visiting study), Australia. His research interest is improving and designing efficient grassland and agricultural systems, mainly focus on the plant-soil-water continuum. 25 SCI papers has been published.

Asso. Prof. Mei chugang is an associate research fellow in College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University. Education experience: 2007-2011, Bachelor, Animal Science, College of Animal Science, Northwest A&F University; 2011-2017, Doctor, Zoology, College of Animal Science, Northwest A&F University; 2017-2020, Postdoctoral, Animal Husbandry Research Station, Northwest A&F University; 2021 to present, Associate research fellow, College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University.

Part 2: Scientific research project

Prof.   Sun Xiuzhu

(1) National Natural Science Foundation of China, Study on the structure and expression diversity of Ig gene in goat embryo line, 2010/01 --2023/12, RMB 590,000.

(2) Ministry of Agriculture, "Integration and Demonstration of Key Technologies for Cattle and Sheep Husbandry and Farming in the Transitional Zone of Agriculture and Sheep Husbandry", 16190050-10, 07/2019 -- 12/2020. RMB 550,000.

(3) Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province, 2018ZDXM-NY-040, Technology integration and demonstration of Grass and Livestock Breeding integration in hilly and gully region, 2018/01-2020/12, RMB 400,000.

(4) National Science and Technology Major Special Project (Project) subproject, 2018 ZX0801106B-003, Genomic editing novel animal products genetic stability and environmental safety evaluation guidelines, 2018/01-2019/12, RMB 660000.

(5) Indel identification and association analysis of PLAG Gene Families of four Chinese yellow cattle and their growth traits 2018/01-2018/12, RMB 20,000.

(6) In vitro isolation and culture of Wuzhishan miniature pig fetal fibroblasts, 2017/01-2017/12, RMB 150,000.

(7) Key project of Industry-University-Research-Application Collaborative Innovation in Yangling Demonstration Zone, 2016CXY-15, Research and demonstration of Rapid propagation and nutritional control technology for Qinchuan beef cattle, 2016/01-2018/12, RMB 600,000

(8) Shaanxi Province major agricultural technology promotion pilot program, Yaozhou Dairy Cow Technology Promotion Station, 2016/01-2016/12, RMB 100,000.

(9) Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities, Study on the Ig gene locus structure and heavy chain recombination mechanism of goat embryo lines, 2014/01-2016/12, 100,000 yuan.

(10) Research start-up fee for the introduction of talents: RMB 350,000.

Asso. Prof. Kou Jiancun

(1) National Natural Science Foundation of China youth Project, Effect of hydrothermal season coupling on the degradation of white clover in apple orchard soil organic matter mechanism, 2014-2016, RMB 240,000.

(2) Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Overall Innovation Project, sub-project of "Research and Demonstration of Efficient Utilization of Fertilizer and Water in Apple Orchard", 2012-2015, RMB 190,000.

(3) Ministry of Agriculture, Collection and evaluation of forage germplasm on loess Plateau, 2016-2019, RMB 275,500.

(4) Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Study on the degradation mechanism and coupling mechanism of key factors in apple orchards on the Loess Plateau, 2013-2015, RMB 100,000.

(5) Fundamental Research Funds for central Universities, effects of buried white clover on soil microbial diversity in apple orchard, 2015, RMB 40, 000.

Asso. Prof. Zhixin Zhang

(1) National Natural Science Foundation of China, Study on the mechanism of water use for forage maize-alfalfa system influenced by biochar in an arid region, 2021-2023.

(2) Research start-up project of Northwest A&F University, 2020-2022.

Asso. Prof. Mei chugang

(1) China Postdoctoral Foundation, 2020-2021.

(2) General Project of China Postdoctoral Foundation, 2018-2019.

(3) Science and Technology Innovation and Transformation Promotion Program of Yangling Demonstration Zone, 2019-2020.

(4) Science and Technology Service Project of Haiyuan County, Ningxia, 2020-2021.

Part 3: Achievements in scientific research

(1) Shuhui Wang, Shirong Liu, Tingting Yuan & Xiuzhu Sun.2019.Genetic effects of FTO gene insertion/deletion (InDel) on fat-tail measurements and growth traits in Tong sheep,  Animal Biotechnology. 2021.32(2):229-239

(2) Shuhui Wang, Xiaohua Yi, Mingli Wu, Haidong Zhao, Shirong Liu, Yun Pan, Qi Li, Xiaoqin Tang, Yanjiao Zhu & Xiuzhu Sun (2019): Detection of key gene InDels in TGF-β pathway and its relationship with growth traits in four sheep breeds,  Animal Biotechnology. 2021.32(2):197-204

(3) Xiaohui Yu , Lijuan Du , Mingli Wu , Jie Wu , Shuai He , Tingting Yuan , Xiuzhu Sun*, The analysis of organization and diversity mechanism in goat immunoglobulin light chain gene loci.   Immunobiology .2020.225(2):151889

(4) Du LJ, Wang SH, Zhu YJ, Zhao HD, Basit A, Yu XH, Li QW and Sun XZ*. Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Variable Region Analysis in Dairy Goats   Immunobiology . 2018. 223(11):599-607

(5) Haidong Zhao, Mingli Wu, Xiaohua Yi, Xiaoqin Tang, Pingbo Chen, Shuhui Wang and Xiuzhu Sun*, Functional Analysis of Haplotypes in Bovine PSAP Gene and Their Relationship with Beef Cattle Production Traits. Animals. 2021.11(1):49

(6) Haidong Zhao, Mingli Wu, Shirong Liu, Xiaoqin Tang, Xiaohua Yi, Qi Li, Shuhui Wang and Xiuzhu Sun*, Liver Expression of IGF2 and Related Proteins in ZBED6 Gene-edited Pig by RNA-seq. Animals.  2020.10(11):2184

(7) Mingli Wu, Haidong Zhao, Xiaoqin Tang, Qi Li, Xiaohua Yi, Shirong Liu and Xiuzhu Sun*, Novel InDels of GHR, GHRH, GHRHR and Their Association with Growth Traits in Seven Chinese Sheep Breeds. Animals. 2020.10(10):1883

(8) Zhao H, Tang X, Wu M, Li Q, Yi X, Liu S, Jiang J, Wang S and Sun X. Transcriptome Characterization of Short Distance Transport Stress in Beef Cattle Blood. Front. Genet. 2021.12:616388

(9) Haidong Zhao, Mingli Wu, Xiaoqin Tang, Qi Li, Xiaohua Yi, Shuhui Wang, Cunling Jia, Zehui Wei1* and Xiuzhu Sun*，Function of Chick Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue During the Embryonic and Posthatch Period. Front. Physiol. 2021.12:684426

(10) Xiaohua Yi, Shuai He, Shuhui Wang, Haidong Zhao, Mingli Wu, Shirong Liu, and Xiuzhu Sun*，Detection of genetic variation and activity analysis of the promoter region of the cattle tRNA-modified gene TRDMT1. Arch. Anim. Breed.. 2021.64:147–155

(11) Xiaohui Yu, Shuai He, Liqiang Wang, Mengyang Kang, Yanjiao Zhu, Shuhui Wang and Xiuzhu Sun* .2019. Effects of Vitamin C and Vitamin E on Cryopreservation of Guanzhong Donkey Semen.  Pakistan J. Zool,  51(5), 1777-1781

(12) S.He, H.Zhao, S.Wang, Y.Zhu, X.Yu, and X.Sun，Two Novel Insertion/Deletion Variants Of The Crtc3gene And Their Effects On Growth Traits In Four Different Chinese Sheep Breeds . The J. Anim. Plant Sci. 2019,29(5):1228-1237

(13) Du LJ, Wang SH, Zhu YJ, Zhao HD, Basit A, Yu XH, Li QW and Sun XZ*. 2018. Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Variable Region Analysis in Dairy Goats  Immunobiology.  223(11):599-607

(14) Zhao HD^＃, He S^＃, Wang SH, Zhu YJ, Xu HW, Luo RY, Lan XY, Cai Y, Sun XZ*. Two New Insertion/Deletion Variants of the PITX2 Gene and their Effects on Growth Traits in Sheep.  Anim Biotechnol. 2018.29(4):276-282

(15) Zhao HD, Wu ML, Wang SH, Yu XH, Li Z, Dang RH*, Sun XZ*. Identification of a novel 24-bp insertion/deletion (InDel) of the androgen receptor gene and its association with growth traits in four indigenous cattle breeds.  Arch. Anim. Breed . 2018.61:71-78

(16) Zhao HD, He S, Zhu YJ, Cao X, Luo RY, Cai Y, Xu HW*, Sun XZ*. A novel 29 bp insertion/deletion (InDel) variant of the LHX3 gene and its influence on growth traits in four sheep breeds of various fecundity.  Arch. Anim. Breed . 2017.60:79-85

(17) Zhixin Zhang, Kailiang Yu, Kadambot H.M. Siddique, Zhibiao Nan*. Phenology and sowing time affect water use in four warm-season annual grasses under a semi-arid environment. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 2019.269-270:257-269

(18) Zhixin Zhang, Michael Christensen, Zhibiao Nan*, Jeremy P.M. Whish, Lindsay W. Bell, Jianfeng Wang, Zhiwei Wang, Richard Sim. Plant development and solar radiation interception of four annual forage plants in response to sowing date in a semi-arid environment. Industrial Crops and Products. 2019.131:41-53

(19) Kai Gao*, Zhixin Zhang*, Tiexia Zhu, Xun Tian, Yang Gao, Lixing Zhao, Tianqi Li. The influence of leaf removal on tuber yield and fuel characteristics of Helianthus tuberosus L. in a semi-arid area. Industrial Crops and Products. 2019.131:8-13

(20) Kai Gao*, Zhixin Zhang*, Tiexia Zhu, Jeffrey A. Coulter. The influence of flower removal on tuber yield and biomass characteristics of Helianthus tuberosus L. in a semi-arid area. Industrial Crops & Products. 2020.150:112374

(21) Zhixin Zhang, Kailiang Yu, Kadambot H.M. Siddique, Zhibiao Nan*. Above- and below- ground dry matter partition of four warm-season annual crops as affected by sowing date. European Journal of Agronomy.2019

(22) Zhixin Zhang, Jeremy P.M. Whish, Lindsay Bell, Zhibiao Nan*. Forage production, quality and water-use-efficiency of four warm-season annual crops at three sowing times in the Loess Plateau region of China. European Journal of Agronomy. 2017.84:84-94

(23) Zhixin Zhang, Xun Tian*, Lei Sun. Germination behaviour of Cenchrus pauciflorus seeds across a range of salinities. Weed Research. 2017.57(2):91-100

(24) Zhixin Zhang, Xun Tian*, Yuguang Bai, Huifang Liu, Xueli Niu, Zhiwei Wang, Qian Wang. Field sandbur (Cenchrus pauciflorus) seeds in the same bur respond differently to temperature and water potential in relation to germination in a semi-arid environment, China. PloS One. 2016.11(12):e0168394

(25) Zhixin Zhang, Zhibiao Nan*. Optimizing productivity of annual forages by adjusting sowing date in a semiarid environment. The 4th International Grassland Agro-ecosystems Conference. 2018:17-19

(26) Rui Li, Zhixin Zhang, Wei Tang, Yafeng Huang, Zhibiao Nan*. Effect of row configuration on yield and radiation use of common vetch-oat strip intercropping on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. European Journal of Agronomy. 2021.128:126290

(27) Jianqiang Deng, Zhixin Zhang, Zhiting Liang, Zhou Li, Xianlong Yang, Zikui Wang, Jeffrey A Coulter, Yuying Shen*. Replacing summer fallow with annual forage improves crude protein productivity and water use efficiency of the summer fallow-winter wheat cropping system. Agricultural Water Management. 2020.230(1):105980

(28) Rui Li, Zhixin Zhang, Wei Tang, Yafeng Huang, Jeffrey A. Coulter, Zhibiao Nan*. Common vetch cultivars improve yield of oat row intercropping on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau by optimizing photosynthetic performance. European Journal of Agronomy.2020.117:126088

(29) Jianqiang Deng, Hong Ni, Zhixin Zhang, Samaila Usman, Xianlong Yang, Yuying Shen*, Yuan Li. Designing productive, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly production systems by replacing fallow period with annual forage cultivation. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2021.320:128660

(30) Jianfeng Wang, Zhibiao Nan*, Michael J. Christensen, Xingxu Zhang, Pei Tian, Zhixin Zhang, Xueli Niu, Peng Gao, Tao Chen, and LIxia Ma. Effect of Epichlo? gansuensis Endophyte on the Nitrogen Metabolism, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Stoichiometry of Achnatherum inebrians under Nitrogen Limitation. Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2018. 66(16):4022-4031

(31) Yafeng Huang, Xiaoli Gao, Zhibiao Nan*, Zhixin Zhang. Potential value of the common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) as an animal feedstuff: a review. Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. 2017. 101(5):807-823

(32) Yafeng Huang, Rui Li, Jeffrey A. Coulter, Zhixin Zhang, Zhibiao Nan*. Comparative grain chemical composition, ruminal degradation in vivo, and intestinal digestibility in vitro of Vicia Sativa L. varieties grown on the Tibetan Plateau. Animals. 2019. 9(5): 212

(33) Wei Tang, Rui Li, Zhixin Zhang, Carol C. Baskin, Zhibiao Nan*. Mulching affects seed set, provisioning, and offspring performance of Vicia unijuga (Fabaceae). Agronomy Journal. 2019.3(3):1341-1357

(34) Jiancun Kou, Shunichi Takahashi, Da-Yong Fan, Murray R. Badger, Wah Soon Chow*. Partially dissecting the steady-state electron fluxes in Photosystem I in wild-type and pgr5 and ndh mutants of Arabidopsis. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2015.6:758

(35) Jiancun Kou, Shunichi Takahashi, Riichi Oguchi, Da-Yong Fan, Murray R. Badger, Wah Soon Chow*. Estimation of the steady-state cyclic electron flux around PSI in spinach leaf discs in white light, CO₂-enriched air and other varied conditions. Functional Plant Biology,2013,40:1018-1028

(36) Jiancun Kou, Riichi Oguchi, Da-Yong Fan, Wah Soon Chow*. The time course of photoinactivation of photosystem II in leaves revisited. Photosynth Res. 2012.113:157-164

(37) Da-Yong Fan, Duncan Fitzpatrick, Riichi Oguchi, Weimin Ma, Jiancun Kou, Wah Soon Chow*. Obstacles in the quantification of the cyclic electron flux around Photosystem I in leaves of C₃ plants. Photosynth Res. 2016.29(3):1-13

(38) Riichi Oguchi, Ichiro Terashima, Jiancun Kou, Wah Soon Chow*. Operation of dual mechanisms that both lead to photoinactivation of Photosystem II in leaves by visible light. Physiologia Plantarum. 2011.142:47-55

(39) Mei Chugang, Wang Hongcheng, Liao Qijun, Wang Lizhong, Cheng Gong, Wang Hongbao, Zhao Chunping, Zhao Shancen, Song Jiuzhou, Guang Xuanmin, George E. Liu, Li Anning, Wu Xueli, Wang Chongzhi, Fang Xiaodong, Zhao Xin, Stephen B. Smith, Yang Wucai, Tian Wanqiang, Gui Linsheng, Zhang Yingying, Rodney A. Hill, Jiang Zhongliang, Xin Yaping, Jia Cunling, Sun Xiuzhu, Wang Shuhui, Yang Huanming, Wang Jian, Zhu Wenjuan, Zan Linsen. Genetic architecture and selection of Chinese cattle revealed by whole genome resequencing.  Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2018.35:688-699

(40) Mei Chugang, Gui Linsheng, Wang Hongcheng, Tian Wanqiang, Li Yaokun, Zan Linsen. Polymorphisms in adrenergic receptor genes in Qinchuan cattle show associations with selected carcass traits.  Meat Science. 2018.135:166-173

(41) Mei Chugang, Wang Hongcheng, Liao Qijun, Khan Rajwali, Raza Sayed Haidar Abbas, Zhao Chunping, Wang Hongbao, Cheng Gong, Tian Wanqiang, Li Yaokun, Zan Linsen. Genome-wide analysis reveals the effects of artificial selection on production and meat quality traits in Qinchuan cattle.  Genomics. 2018.10:11-22

(42) Mei Chugang, Li Shijun, Abbas Sayed Haidar, Tian Wanqiang, Wang Hongcheng, Li Yaokun, Gui Linsheng, Zhang Yingying, Wu Xueli, Zan Linsen. Copy number variation detection in Chinese indigenous cattle by whole genome sequencing.  Genomics. 2019.05:1-12

(43) Mei Chugang, Zainaguli Junjvlieke, Sayed Haidar Abbas Raza, Wang Hongbao,  Cheng Gong, Zhao Chuping, Zhu Wenjuan, Zan Linsen. Performance measurement and comparative transcriptome analysis revealed the efforts on hybrid improvement of Qinchuan cattle.  Animal Biotechnology. 2018.2: 1-8

(44) Mei Chugang, Wang Hongcheng, Zhu Wenjuan, Wang Hongbao, Cheng Gong, Qu Kaixing, Guang Xuanmin, Li Anning, Zhao Chunping, Yang Wucai, Wang Chongzhi, Xin Yaping, Zan Linsen. Whole-genome sequencing of the endangered bovine species Gayal (Bos frontalis) provides new insights into its genetic features. Scientific Reports. 2016.6:19787

(45) Wang Yaning, Mei Chugang, Su Xiaotong, Wang Hongbao, Yang Wucai, Zan Linsen. MEF2A Regulates the MEG3-DIO3 miRNA Mega Cluster-Targeted PP2A Signaling in Bovine Skeletal Myoblast Differentiation.  International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019.20:2748.

(46) Zaina guli, Mei Chugang, Khan Rajwali, Zhang Wen Zhen, Hong Jie Yun, Wang Li, Li Shi Jun, Zan Lin Sen. Transcriptional regulation of bovine elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 6 in lipid metabolism and adipocyte proliferation.  Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. 2019. 120: 13932-13943

(47) Hong Jieyun, Mei Chugang, Wang Xiaoyu, Cheng Gong, Zan Linsen. SIRT5 inhibits bovine preadipocyte differentiation and lipid deposition by activating AMPK and repressing MAPK signal pathways.  Genomics. 2018.37(12): 1003-1015