When I walked into the laboratory of Tian Zhixi, a researcher at the Institute of genetics and developmental biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Institute of genetics and Developmental Biology), the first thing I heard was bursts of “clattering” – a group of students were raising soybeans that had just been harvested. Golden beans flutter up and down in the dustpan woven with wickers, which is no different from the harvest scene of farmers. On the other side of the corridor, modern scientific research instruments are running in an orderly manner, and ancient crops are endowed with new value here.
This also coincides with Tian Zhixi’s “dual” identity: when he was in the field, he was a diligent “farmer” who only wanted to grow good soybeans; While in the laboratory, he was a scientist to solve the soybean problem, with the goal of “fighting for the rise of Chinese soybean”.
Not long ago, the list of winners of the 13th “Tan Jiazhen Life Science Award” was announced. Tian Zhixi won the award for his breakthrough research achievements in soybean genomics and other related fields.
Three leaps from fruit trees to soybeans
At first, Tian Zhixi didn’t study soybeans. He majored in fruit trees at the undergraduate and master’s stages. After graduating as a graduate student in 2000, he stayed in his alma mater Hebei Agricultural University. In 2001, Tian Zhixi was seconded to the National Natural Science Foundation of China to assist in the application for project approval and other related work. There, Tian Zhixi “opened his eyes” and came into contact with many previously unknown fields. His thirst for knowledge was aroused again. He was determined to continue his doctoral study. He focused on the Institute of genetic development, which focused more on basic research, and Tian Zhixi began his first leap.
Molecular biology, molecular genetics… Tian Zhixi, who has been engaged in applied research, had little contact with such content before. In order to prepare for the exam, he heard that his former classmates were teaching “molecular biology”, so he ran to listen as soon as he was free. Tian Zhixi was admitted and studied with Li Jiayang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
After graduation, Tian Zhixi went to Purdue University to engage in post doctoral work, and the real test began from then on. When he first arrived in the United States, he encountered unprecedented difficulties. The post doctoral research is different from the doctoral stage, and there is no connection. He has to start from scratch. In addition, facing the laboratory with nothing in time and space, he also undertook the task of establishing the laboratory from scratch.
At the beginning, the progress of scientific research was not smooth, and the laboratory work was heavy. Tian Zhixi felt more and more confused. Tian Zhixi still remembers that there was a blizzard in Indiana where Purdue University was located that year. He struggled in the knee deep snow, just like his life when he first arrived in the United States. However, Tian Zhixi didn’t want to wait to die. In order to find the right direction as soon as possible, he worked in the laboratory during the day and returned home at night to teach himself about bioinformatics and expand his research field. “At that time, I often worried and couldn’t sleep all night.” He said.
However, the turning point came soon. The rapid mastery of bioinformatics knowledge made Tian Zhixi quickly find the correct research direction and produce a number of important achievements one after another. On September 20, 2010, Tian Zhixi clearly remembered this day. He returned home to accept the examination and defense of the Institute of genetic development. Six months later, he returned to the Institute of genetic development, began his scientific research career of independent exploration, and completed his second leap.
But what to study after coming back became a big problem perplexing Tian Zhixi at that time. “Rice and corn were considered at that time. On the contrary, soybeans were less exposed in the past.” He was slow to make up his mind and repeatedly communicated and discussed with his academic friends and leaders of the Institute of genetic development.
With a preliminary understanding of the importance of soybean, Tian Zhixi decided to challenge it. “Our country imports so many soybeans every year. Can we achieve self-sufficiency?” He recalled.
Tian Zhixi set a goal for himself and did five years of basic research in a down-to-earth manner. In 2015, four years later, Tian Zhixi won the “National Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars” for his outstanding achievements in the field of soybean. He increasingly believed that the choice of soybean was correct, and he also realized his three leaps.
Make China’s soybean genome platform
On the middle pillar of Tian Zhixi laboratory, there is a sentence: strive for the rise of Chinese soybeans. This is the goal set by Tian Zhixi for himself and the members of the laboratory team.
Tian Zhixi’s initial idea was to go all out to tackle soybean nitrogen fixation after five years of basic research. When he was an undergraduate, he paid more attention to this aspect, “this is the kind of research that will excite scientists at the thought”. However, with the deeper understanding of soybean, Tian Zhixi increasingly felt the pressure and responsibility of soybean researchers. “The current situation of soybean in China is not optimistic. I still want to do some research that can directly solve practical problems.” He said.
Tian Zhixi introduced that wheat and rice are food crops that have experienced the “green revolution”, and their output has been greatly increased in the past period. However, soybean has not experienced this process, and its production has not increased significantly in the past few decades. The situation in China is particularly severe. The external dependence of soybeans exceeds 80%, and less than 20% of soybeans are produced in China.
Tian Zhixi knew that in order to improve the overall yield of China’s soybeans, we must first work on basic research. “The average yield per mu of soybean in China is only about 130 kg, while the average yield per mu of major soybean producing countries in the world has reached 220 kg. The gap is still relatively large.” He analyzed that in addition to the limited natural and geographical conditions, the lack of breeding level is also a big weakness.
Combined with his previous knowledge of genomics, Tian Zhixi realized that there was still a lot of work to do. Previously, in the plant world, there has been no way to comprehensively integrate the genomes of different individuals, and there is little related content about the soybean genome. Tian Zhixi wants to have a try. He wants to be a Chinese soybean genome platform.
Tian Zhixi, together with a number of scientific researchers, conducted in-depth re sequencing and population structure analysis of 2898 soybean germplasm materials from major soybean producing countries in the world, selected 26 most representative soybean germplasm materials, and carried out high-quality genome de novo assembly and accurate annotation based on “Zhonghuang 13” and other soybean varieties independently cultivated in China. At the same time, drawing on the tools and methods of human genome related research, they finally successfully constructed the pan genome analysis of soybean graphic structure, which is the first time in the world to realize the construction of genome based on graphic structure in plants. On June 17, 2020, the achievement was published online in cell, and the reviewers called it “a milestone in genomics”.
But Tian Zhixi has more expectations. He hopes that this platform can serve more scientific researchers in the future. “Personal strength is limited after all. I hope this platform can be used as a foundation to give birth to more scientific research achievements.” He said.
A scientist who can farm and hold a “home”
To engage in crop research and obtain research materials is a key step, so Tian Zhixi personally planted his research objects every year.
Tian Zhixi has a set of special “equipment” for agricultural work – camouflage clothes, rubber shoes and various farm tools. He is very handy when using them. Tian Zhixi said that he was a genuine farmer when he was in the field.
However, the “land veteran” still can’t forget the embarrassment when he just returned home to grow soybeans. At that time, Tian Zhixi’s laboratory had just been established. With only four people, the team began to study the most basic soybean planting.
For the first time, 100 seeds were sown, and Tian Zhixi was looking forward to it. Results after a period of time, the seeds did not sprout. Tian Zhixi fell into anxiety. “I couldn’t sleep. I got up at 4 a.m. and wanted to see how the soybean was.”. Finally, only about 2 / 3 of the 100 seeds planted in the first batch were harvested. “At that time, people said that when they saw the land that didn’t look good, they knew it was Mr. Tian’s.” Tian Zhixi laughed at himself.
But Tian Zhixi was unwilling and repeatedly looked for reasons. Others reminded him: “the soil is not the same in different regions. Sometimes a pit needs to put more seeds to form a joint force, so it is easier to break through the soil and germinate.”
Today, Tian Zhixi’s team has expanded to more than 20 people, but he still runs to the ground. And his goal is even bigger. He wants to grow soybeans in saline alkali land. “Before, few people did research on the saline alkali resistance of soybean, but in order to further improve the total yield of soybean in China, we must develop saline alkali land.” He said.
The result of the first trial was also terrible, but he soon found a way. “We learned from the experience of planting cotton in saline alkali land – spreading plastic film, which can effectively reduce water evaporation and reduce the salt content of soil.” Tian Zhixi also asked a local villager to help with daily management, and specially told him “no extra watering, keep what natural conditions are”. The villagers realized that the soybean expert really wanted to do something, so they paid special attention to the management of the experimental field.
Today, Tian Zhixi’s research group has a total of 100 mu of experimental field in Dongying City, Shandong Province, which can test plant about 3000 seeds every year, and its latest yield per mu has reached 226kg. However, Tian Zhixi is very clear that the success of several trials does not represent anything. To achieve large-scale promotion, more long-term research and trials are needed, and he still has a lot of work to do.
On the homepage of the website of Tian Zhixi research group, there is a sentence welcome to sweet home Sweet home is his nickname for his laboratory. Sweet coincides with his last name, and home is his hope that the laboratory can be as warm and harmonious as a family. At the same time, these nine English letters are also the initials of the nine principles he set for the laboratory, representing safety, enthusiasm, enthusiasm, efficiency, team spirit, honesty, openness, humility and enjoyment.
“I didn’t do anything else in the first three months of preparing to build the laboratory. I’ve been thinking about this.” Because he believes that culture and values can have a more far-reaching impact on people. The team should also be like a seed, rely on common values and form a joint force to break through many difficulties and finally achieve a good harvest.
(Science and technology daily)
