Shunyuan Xiao

Dr. Shunyuan Xiao is a Professor at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) and the Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland College Park. He also holds an affiliated position as Associate Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Xiao received his Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees in Plant Genetics from Huazhong Agricultural University, China. After completing postdoctoral research at the University of Florida and the University of East Anglia, UK, he joined the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute as an Assistant Professor in 2003. He transitioned to the University of Maryland College Park as an Associate Professor in 2010 and was promoted to Professor in 2017.

Dr. Xiao's research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of plant resistance against fungal pathogens, particularly powdery mildew. His laboratory investigates:

• Host immunity mediated by RPW8 at the extra-haustorial membrane (EHM)—the host-pathogen interface
• EHM biogenesis and role in plant-fungal interaction
• Genetic and molecular basis of non-host resistance
• Pathogenicity mechanisms of powdery mildew fungi

Analysis of Dr. Xiao's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on plant-pathogen interactions, particularly focusing on powdery mildew resistance mechanisms. His work spans multiple plant species including Arabidopsis, grapevine, wheat, and citrus, with significant contributions to understanding RPW8-mediated immunity, non-host resistance mechanisms, and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Recent publications show increasing application of CRISPR technology for both basic research and crop improvement.

Dr. Xiao has received research funding from multiple sources including NSF (IOS-2224203), USDA (NIFA-2022-08786), and MAES (MD-PSLA-253688). His laboratory has produced numerous patents related to plant disease resistance mechanisms.

Dr. Xiao teaches several courses including PLSC125 (Feeding Nine Billion), PLSC420 (Principles of Plant Pathology), and PLSC489W/689W (Plant-Microbe Associations). He has mentored numerous graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate students who have gone on to successful careers in plant science.

The Xiao Laboratory maintains active research programs focused on understanding plant immunity at the molecular level and applying this knowledge to engineer disease-resistant crops. Current work emphasizes CRISPR-based approaches to improve both plant immunity and yield characteristics simultaneously.