EDUCATION

Ph.D.	- Plant Pathology, Louisiana State University
M.S.	- Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky
B.S.	- Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, China

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My primary research goal is finding solutions to pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination in southern crops, especially corn and peanut, and genetic improvement of peanut resistance to other important diseases such as TSWV and leafspot. The ultimate goal of this project is to identify and select the genes/markers controlling the phenotypes to maximize selection gain in breeding. The current research goal is to develop genetic and genomic resources and tools for corn and peanut genetic improvement: (1) to evaluate corn germplasm for reduced aflatoxin contamination and to identify genes responding to Aspergillus colonization and drought stress and (2) to develop peanut genetic and genomic resources for improvement of peanut resistance to diseases and aflatoxin contamination.