Dr. Xueli Wu received her Ph.D. from Nanjing Agricultural University and is currently an Associate Professor at Qingdao Agricultural University. Her research focuses on the establishment of efficient and stable tissue culture and genetic transformation systems for various Poaceae species. She has led advancements in germplasm collection, molecular breeding, and gene function studies for grasses such as Paspalum vaginatum, Festuca arundinacea, and Juncus articulatus. In response to the integrated development needs of "saline-alkali land + forage," Dr. Wu's team evaluated the effects of salt stress on the agronomic traits and forage quality of Paspalum vaginatum. Utilizing robust Agrobacterium-mediated transformation systems for Paspalum vaginatum, Festuca arundinacea, and Brachypodium distachyon, they developed multiple transgenic germplasms and elucidated the functions and regulatory pathways of key salt-tolerance genes, such as PvNF-YC, PvSAMDC, and PvNAC, in the halophyte Paspalum vaginatum. Her work provides essential theoretical insights and genetic resources for the molecular breeding of turfgrasses and crops.
