Dr Zhi Zheng
Research Fellow
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
Researcher biography
Dr Zhi Zheng is a Research Fellow within QAAFI at the University of Queensland, focusing on genetic improvement of sugarcane lignocellulosic composition. He brings over a decade of experience in crop improvement and translational genomics, with a strong record of delivering research outcomes that connect fundamental discovery with industry application. Prior to joining UQ, Dr. Zheng served as a Research Scientist at CSIRO Agriculture and Food. In this role, he held a leadership position in managing approximately $3 million in GRDC-funded investments. His work played a pivotal role in developing wheat and barley germplasm with improved disease resistance, equipping Australian breeding programs with essential molecular markers and genetic tools to protect yield. His transition to sugarcane research leverages this extensive background in genetics and pre-breeding to optimize biomass quality and biofuel potential for the future of sustainable agriculture.
Journal Articles
Gao, Yutian, Jin, Jingjing, Lou, Hongyao, Duan, Shuonan, Zhou, Xiaohan, Xu, Xiangru, Su, Yuqing, Yang, Jiatian, Li, Jinlong, Zheng, Zhi, Xie, Chaojie, Zhang, Shengquan, Zhen, Wenchao, Sun, Zhencai and Ma, Jun (2025). Combined Fusarium crown rot and drought stress leads to overlapping and unique proteomic responses in wheat. Phytopathology, 115 (9), 1175-1185. doi: 10.1094/phyto-11-24-0370-r
Su, Zhouyang, Gao, Shang, Hu, Haiyan, Shabala, Sergey, Zhou, Meixue, Liu, Chunji and Zheng, Zhi (2025). A major locus conferring both Fusarium crown rot resistance and drought tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Plant Breeding, 144 (5), 728-741. doi: 10.1111/pbr.13289
Chen, Xiaoxia, Zheng, Zhi, Zhang, Nannan, Yu, Hongdou, Wu, Yan and Shi, Fusun (2025). Incidence and Severity Distribution of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) and Their Influencing Factors in Southwest China. Plant Disease, 109 (4), 816-824. doi: 10.1094/pdis-08-24-1727-re
Chen, Xiaoxia, Su, Zhouyang, Zheng, Yunpu, Li, Cong, Ma, Jun, Ma, Jian, Shi, Fusun, Hu, Haiyan, Liu, Chunji and Zheng, Zhi (2025). Unveiling the genetic architecture of barley embryo: QTL mapping, candidate genes identification and its relationship with kernel size and early vigour. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 138 (1) 32, 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s00122-025-04817-y
Su, Yuqing, Xu, Xiangru, Wang, Yunqiao, Wang, Tongzhu, Yu, Jiazheng, Yang, Jiatian, Li, Jinlong, Gao, Yutian, Wang, Yixin, Sang, Wei, Li, Cong, Wang, Xingyi, Zheng, Zhi, Xie, Chaojie, Ma, Jian and Ma, Jun (2025). Identification of genetic loci and candidate genes underlying Fusarium crown rot resistance in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 138 (1) 23, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s00122-025-04818-x
Chen, Xiaoxia, Zhang, Nannan, Zheng, Zhi, Yu, Hongdou, Wu, Yan and Shi, Fusun (2024). Effects of root rot disease on the microbiome and metabolites in roots and rhizosphere soil of sweet cherry. Scientia Horticulturae, 338 113734. doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113734
Yu, Hongdou, Zheng, Zhi, Xu, Binhong, Chen, Xiaoxia and Shi, Fusun (2024). First Report of Sweet Cherry Root Rot Caused by Fusarium solani in China. Plant Disease, 108 (9), 1-1. doi: 10.1094/pdis-04-24-0816-pdn
Gao, Shang, Su, Zhouyang, Ma, Jun, Ma, Jian, Liu, Chunji, Li, Huihui and Zheng, Zhi (2024). Identification of a novel and plant height-independent QTL for coleoptile length in barley and validation of its effect using near isogenic lines. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137 (3) 53, 53. doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04561-9
Li, Jinlong, Zhai, Shanshan, Xu, Xiangru, Su, Yuqing, Yu, Jiazheng, Gao, Yutian, Yang, Jiatian, Zheng, Zhi, Li, Baoyun, Sun, Qixin, Xie, Chaojie and Ma, Jun (2024). Dissecting the genetic basis of Fusarium crown rot resistance in wheat by genome wide association study. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137 (2) 43. doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04553-9
Xu, Xiangru, Su, Yuqing, Yang, Jiatian, Li, Jinlong, Gao, Yutian, Li, Cong, Wang, Xingyi, Gou, Lulu, Zheng, Zhi, Xie, Chaojie, Ma, Jian and Ma, Jun (2024). A novel QTL conferring Fusarium crown rot resistance on chromosome 2A in a wheat EMS mutant. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137 (2) 49, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04557-5
Su, Zhouyang, Gao, Shang, Zheng, Zhi, Stiller, Jiri, Hu, Shuwen, Mcneil, Meredith Diane, Shabala, Sergey, Zhou, Meixue and Liu, Chunji (2024). Transcriptomic insights into shared responses to Fusarium crown rot infection and drought stresses in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137 (2) 34. doi: 10.1007/s00122-023-04537-1
Zhou, Jieguang, Liu, Qian, Tian, Rong, Chen, Huangxin, Wang, Jian, Yang, Yaoyao, Zhao, Conghao, Liu, Yanlin, Tang, Huaping, Deng, Mei, Xu, Qiang, Jiang, Qiantao, Chen, Guoyue, Qi, Pengfei, Jiang, Yunfeng, Chen, Guangdeng, Tang, Liwei, Ren, Yong, Zheng, Zhi, Liu, Chunji, Zheng, Youliang, He, Yuanjiang, Wei, Yuming and Ma, Jian (2024). A co-located QTL for seven spike architecture-related traits shows promising breeding use potential in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137 (1) 31, 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s00122-023-04536-2
Zhao, Conghao, Zhou, Jieguang, Li, Cong, You, Jianing, Liu, Yanling, Tang, Huaping, Deng, Mei, Xu, Qiang, Zhang, Yazhou, Jiang, Qiantao, Chen, Guoyue, Qi, Pengfei, Jiang, Yunfeng, Wang, Jirui, Li, Wei, Pu, Zhien, Chen, Guangdeng, Jiang, Yun, Zheng, Zhi, Liu, Chunji, Zheng, Youliang, Wei, Yuming and Ma, Jian (2023). A major QTL simultaneously increases the number of spikelets per spike and thousand-kernel weight in a wheat line. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 136 (10) 213, 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s00122-023-04459-y
Gao, Shang, Jiang, Yunfeng, Zhou, Hong, Liu, Yaxi, Li, Huihui, Liu, Chunji and Zheng, Zhi (2023). Fine mapping of a Fusarium crown rot resistant locus on chromosome arm 6HL in barley by exploiting near isogenic lines, transcriptome profiling, and a large near isogenic line-derived population. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 136 (6) 137, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s00122-023-04387-x
Zheng, Zhi, Gao, Shang, Wang, Haibo and Liu, Chunji (2023). Shortening generation times for winter cereals by vernalizing seedlings from young embryos at 10 degree Celsius. Plant Breeding, 142 (2), 202-210. doi: 10.1111/pbr.13074
Luo, Wei, Zhou, Jieguang, Liu, Jiajun, Liu, Yanlin, Mu, Yang, Tang, Huaping, Xu, Qiang, Deng, Mei, Jiang, Qiantao, Chen, Guoyue, Qi, Pengfei, Wang, Jirui, Jiang, Yunfeng, Chen, Zhongxu, Zheng, Zhi, Wei, Yuming, Zheng, Youliang, Lan, Xiujin and Ma, Jian (2022). Fine mapping of the Hairy glume (Hg) gene in a chromosome variation region at the distal terminus of 1AS. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13 1006510, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1006510
Niu, Yanan, Chen, Tianxiao, Zheng, Zhi, Zhao, Chenchen, Liu, Chunji, Jia, Jizeng and Zhou, Meixue (2022). A new major QTL for flag leaf thickness in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). BMC Plant Biology, 22 (1) 305. doi: 10.1186/s12870-022-03694-7
Zheng, Zhi, Powell, Jonathan, Gao, Shang, Percy, Cassandra, Kelly, Alison, Macdonald, Bethany, Zhou, Meixue, Davies, Philip and Liu, Chunji (2022). Investigation of two QTL conferring seedling resistance to Fusarium crown rot in barley on reducing grain yield loss under field environments. Agronomy, 12 (6) 1282, 1282. doi: 10.3390/agronomy12061282
Su, Zhouyang, Zheng, Zhi, Zhou, Meixue, Shabala, Sergey and Liu, Chunji (2022). Tissue-specific responses of cereals to two fusarium diseases and effects of plant height and drought stress on their susceptibility. Agronomy, 12 (5) 1108, 1108. doi: 10.3390/agronomy12051108
Zheng, Zhi, Hu, Haiyan, Gao, Shang, Zhou, Hong, Luo, Wei, Kage, Udaykumar, Liu, Chunji and Jia, Jizeng (2022). Leaf thickness of barley: genetic dissection, candidate genes prediction and its relationship with yield-related traits. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 135 (6), 1843-1854. doi: 10.1007/s00122-022-04076-1
Liu, Hang, Tang, Hua-Ping, Luo, Wei, Mu, Yang, Jiang, Qian-Tao, Liu, Ya-Xi, Chen, Guo-Yue, Wang, Ji-Rui, Zheng, Zhi, Qi, Peng-Fei, Jiang, Yun-Feng, Cui, Fa, Song, Yin-Ming, Yan, Gui-Jun, Wei, Yu-Ming, Lan, Xiu-Jin, Zheng, You-Liang and Ma, Jian (2021). Genetic dissection of wheat uppermost-internode diameter and its association with agronomic traits in five recombinant inbred line populations at various field environments. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 20 (11), 2849-2861. doi: 10.1016/s2095-3119(20)63412-8
Zheng, Zhi, Powell, Jonathan J., Ye, Xueling, Liu, Xueqiang, Yuan, Zhongwei and Liu, Chunji (2021). Overcompensation can be an ideal breeding target. Agronomy, 11 (7) 1376, 1376. doi: 10.3390/agronomy11071376
Chen, Zhitong, Zheng, Zhi, Luo, Wei, Zhou, Hong, Ying, Zhaoyang and Liu, Chunji (2021). Detection of a major QTL conditioning trichome length and density on chromosome arm 4BL and development of near isogenic lines targeting this locus in bread wheat. Molecular Breeding, 41 (2) 10, 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s11032-021-01201-8
Gao, Shang, Zheng, Zhi, Hu, Haiyan, Jiang, Yunfeng, Liu, Miao, Stiller, Jiri, Zhou, Meixue and Liu, Chunji (2020). Delineating a locus conferring Fusarium crown rot resistance on chromosome arm 1HL in barley by developing and analysing a large population derived from near isogenic lines. Crop Journal, 8 (6), 1002-1010. doi: 10.1016/j.cj.2020.03.008
Jiang, Yunfeng, Yuan, Zhongwei, Hu, Haiyan, Ye, Xueling, Zheng, Zhi, Wei, Yuming, Zheng, You-Liang, Wang, You-Gan and Liu, Chunji (2020). Differentiating homoploid hybridization from ancestral subdivision in evaluating the origin of the D lineage in wheat. New Phytologist, 228 (2), 409-414. doi: 10.1111/nph.16578
Gao, Shang, Wu, Jinran, Stiller, Jiri, Zheng, Zhi, Zhou, Meixue, Wang, You-Gan and Liu, Chunji (2020). Identifying barley pan-genome sequence anchors using genetic mapping and machine learning. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 133 (9), 2535-2544. doi: 10.1007/s00122-020-03615-y
Gao, Shang, Zheng, Zhi, Hu, Haiyan, Shi, Haoran, Ma, Jian, Liu, Yaxi, Wei, Yuming, Zheng, You-Liang, Zhou, Meixue and Liu, Chunji (2019). A Novel QTL Conferring Fusarium Crown Rot Resistance Located on Chromosome Arm 6HL in Barley. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10 1206, 1-7. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01206
Gao, Shang, Zheng, Zhi, Powell, Jonathan, Habib, Ahsan, Stiller, Jiri, Zhou, Meixue and Liu, Chunji (2019). Validation and delineation of a locus conferring Fusarium crown rot resistance on 1HL in barley by analysing transcriptomes from multiple pairs of near isogenic lines. BMC Genomics, 20 (1) 650, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12864-019-6011-8
Jiang, Yunfeng, Habib, Ahsan, Zheng, Zhi, Zhou, Meixue, Wei, Yuming, Zheng, You-Liang and Liu, Chunji (2019). Development of tightly linked markers and identification of candidate genes for Fusarium crown rot resistance in barley by exploiting a near-isogenic line-derived population. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 132 (1), 217-225. doi: 10.1007/s00122-018-3209-0
Zheng, Z., Wang, Y. F., Bai, H., Li, Z. Y. and Dong, Z. P. (2019). First report of Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex causing ear rot of foxtail millet in northwest regions of China. New Disease Reports, 40 (1) 8, 8-8. doi: 10.5197/j.2044-0588.2019.040.008
Qin, Jun, Zhang, Jianan, Wang, Fengmin, Wang, Jinghua, Zheng, Zhi, Yin, Changcheng, Chen, Hao, Shi, Ainong, Zhang, Bo, Chen, Pengyin and Zhang, Mengchen (2017). iTRAQ protein profile analysis of developmental dynamics in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] leaves. PLoS One, 12 (9) e0181910. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181910
Zheng, Zhi, Gao, Shang, Zhou, Meixue, Yan, Guijun and Liu, Chunji (2017). Enhancing Fusarium crown rot resistance by pyramiding large-effect QTL in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Molecular Breeding, 37 (9) 107, 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s11032-017-0708-7
Ma, Jian, Zheng, Zhi, Stiller, Jiri, Lan, Xiu-jin, Liu, Yaxi, Deng, Mei, Wang, Penghao, Pu, Zhien, Chen, Guangdeng, Jiang, Qian-tao, Wei, Yuming and Zheng, You-Liang (2017). Identification and characterization of genes on a single subgenome in the hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype 'Chinese Spring'. Genome, 60 (3), 208-215. doi: 10.1139/gen-2016-0076
Zheng, Zhi, Ma, Jian, Stiller, Jiri, Zhao, Qiang, Feng, Qi, Choulet, Frederic, Feuillet, Catherine, Zheng, You-Liang, Wei, Yuming, Han, Bin, Yan, Guijun, Manners, John M. and Liu, Chunji (2015). Fine mapping of a large-effect QTL conferring Fusarium crown rot resistance on the long arm of chromosome 3B in hexaploid wheat. BMC Genomics, 16 850, 1-7. doi: 10.1186/s12864-015-2105-0
Ma, Jian, Stiller, Jiri, Zheng, Zhi, Liu, Ya-Xi, Wei, Yuming, Zheng, You-Liang and Liu, Chunji (2015). A high-throughput pipeline for detecting locus-specific polymorphism in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plant Methods, 11 39, 1-7. doi: 10.1186/s13007-015-0082-6
Ma, Jian, Stiller, Jiri, Zheng, Zhi, Wei, Yuming, Zheng, You-Liang, Yan, Guijun, Dolezel, Jaroslav and Liu, Chunji (2015). Putative interchromosomal rearrangements in the hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype 'Chinese Spring' revealed by gene locations on homoeologous chromosomes. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 15 37, 1-10. doi: 10.1186/s12862-015-0313-5
Zheng, Zhi, Kilian, Andrzej, Yan, Guijun and Liu, Chunji (2014). QTL Conferring Fusarium Crown Rot Resistance in the Elite Bread Wheat Variety EGA Wylie. Plos One, 9 (4) e96011, 1-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096011
Zheng, Z., Wang, H. B., Chen, G. D., Yan, G. J. and Liu, C. J. (2013). A procedure allowing up to eight generations of wheat and nine generations of barley per annum. Euphytica, 191 (2), 311-316. doi: 10.1007/s10681-013-0909-z
Chen, Guangdeng, Liu, Yaxi, Ma, Jun, Zheng, Zhi, Wei, Yuming, McIntyre, C. Lynne, Zheng, You-Liang and Liu, Chunji (2013). A Novel and Major Quantitative Trait Locus for Fusarium Crown Rot Resistance in a Genotype of Wild Barley (Hordeum spontaneum L.). PLoS One, 8 (3) e58040, 1-9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058040
Chen, G. D., Li, H. B., Zheng, Z., Wei, Y. M., Zheng, Y. L., McIntyre, C. L., Zhou, M. X. and Liu, C. J. (2012). Characterization of a QTL affecting spike morphology on the long arm of chromosome 3H in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) based on near isogenic lines and a NIL-derived population. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 125 (7), 1385-1392. doi: 10.1007/s00122-012-1918-3
Zhang, M. C., Wang, D. M., Zheng, Z., Humphry, M. and Liu, C. J. (2008). Development of PCR-based markers for a major locus conferring powdery mildew resistance in mungbean (Vigna radiata). Plant Breeding, 127 (4), 429-432. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0523.2008.01521.x
Conference Papers
Zheng, Zhi, Jiang, Yunfeng, Su, Zhouyang, Gardiner, Donald, Ayliffe, Michael and Liu, Chunji (2024). Unleashing genetic potential: battling Fusarium crown rot in Australia. 3rd International Wheat Congress, Perth Australia, Perth, WA Australia, 22-27 September 2024.
Zheng, Zhi, Jiang, Yunfeng and Lui, Chunji (2024). Dissecting and leveraging the fusarium crown rot resistance qtlome in barley. Plant and Animal Genome Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 18-20 September 2024.
Zheng, Zhi, Powell, Jonathan, Chhetri, Mumta and Liu, Chunji (2022). Recent progress in Fusarium crown rot resistance in wheat. Australian Wheat Breeders Assembly, Narrabri, NSW, Australia, 28-31 August 2022.
Zheng, Zhi, Gao, Shang, Powell, Jonathan and Liu, Chunji (2019). Enhancing Fusarium crown rot resistance by marker-assisted gene pyramiding in barley. 19th Australian Barley Technical Symposium, Perth, QLD, Australia, 10-12 September 2019.
Powell, Jonathan, Chhertri, Mumta, Zheng, Zhi and Liu, Chunji (2019). Development of co-segregating genetic markers for Fusarium crown rot resistance loci which provide tractable resistance in the field. Australian Wheat Breeders Assembly, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 20-22 August 2019.
Powell, Jonathan, Ma, Yanling, Zheng, Zhi and Liu, Chunji (2018). From plate to paddock: Taking Fusarium crown rot resistance from the lab into the field. International Congress of Plant Pathology, Boston, MA, United States, 29 July-3 August 2018.
Ma, Yanling, Powell, Jonathan, Zheng, Zhi and Liu, Chunji (2017). Integrated genetic solution to crown rot resistance in wheat. Australian Wheat Breeders Assembly, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 23-25 August 2017.
Zheng, Zhi, Ma, Jun, Yan, Guijun and Liu, Chunji (2012). Fine mapping of a major FCR resistant locus on wheat chromosome 3BL. Third Australia-China Wheat Genetics and Breeding Workshop, Shijiazhuang, China, 11-13 May 2012.
Zheng, Zhi, Li, Haobing, Ma, Jun, Chakraborty, S., Faris, Justin D., Xu, S.S. and Liu, Chunji (2008). Identification of chromosomes responsible for crown rot resistance in durum wheat. The 11th International Wheat Genetics Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24-29 August 2008. Sydney, NSW Australia: Sydney University Press.
Research Report
Zheng, Zhi and Liu, Chunji (2024). Fusarium crown rot genetic resistance in cereals - what is in the breeding pipelines?. GRDC Grain Research Updates: GRDC.