Ainong Shi

Dr. Ainong Shi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas, affiliated with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. His research focuses on plant breeding and genetics, particularly in vegetable crops like arugula, cowpea, and spinach. He leads the Vegetable Breeder program and directs the University of Arkansas Experiment Station (DREX).

Education:

• Ph.D. – Plant Pathology and Crop Sciences, North Carolina State University (1997)
• M.S. – Computer Systems, City University, Seattle (2000)
• M.S. – Plant Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (1986)
• B.S. – Plant Pathology and Entomology, Zhejiang University (1983)

Research Interests:

His laboratory specializes in molecular breeding techniques, including genetic mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), to identify markers for traits like biotic/abiotic stress tolerance. Key projects include developing disease-resistant spinach cultivars and improving soybean traits via genomic selection. Over 30 grants totaling $9.6M have funded his work, with $3.37M allocated to his lab.

Publications & Patents:

• 182+ peer-reviewed articles in journals like BMC Genomics and Frontiers in Plant Science
• 5 patents filed, 20 granted (e.g., molecular markers for disease resistance in soybean)

Grants & Collaborations:

• USDA NIFA-SCRI, SCMP, OREI grants
• Leadership in projects like the USDA Spinach Disease Breeding Initiative (spinachdb.org)

Labs & Teams:

Directs a multi-disciplinary team using advanced sequencing (WGS, ddRADseq) and collaborates with institutions globally to enhance crop resilience and productivity.