Dr. Guoquan Liu has more than ten years experience in sorghum tissue culture and genetic transformation. He developed a highly efficient sorghum particle transformation system in 2012. Since then, hundreds of transgenic plants have been regenerated from tens of constructs that are invoved in plant disease resistant genes (e.g. Lr34), report gene (gfp), specific-promoters (e.g. alpha- beta- kafirin, A2, LSG), G proteins etc.. He has trained many students how to transform sorghum including honor students, master students, and PhD students.
He has focused on improving sorghum grain yield and grain quality through biotechnologies including genetic transformation, genome-editing, synthetic biology, and plant apomixis.
Highly efficient sorghum tissue culture and particle bombardment transformation system.
Journal Article: Stem vacuole-targetted sucrose isomerase enhances sugar content in sorghum
Liu, Guoquan, Zhang, Yan, Gong, Hao, Li, Shan, Pan, Yunrong, Davis, Christopher, Jing, Hai-Chun, Wu, Luguang and Godwin, Ian D. (2021). Stem vacuole-targetted sucrose isomerase enhances sugar content in sorghum. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 14 (1) 53, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s13068-021-01907-z
Journal Article: The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide
Liu, Guoquan, Lamont, Kyle C., Ahmad, Norazlina, Tomkins, Alison, Mudge, Stephen R., Gilding, Edward K. and Godwin, Ian D. (2017). The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 128 (1), 133-143. doi: 10.1007/s11240-016-1093-3
Journal Article: Highly efficient sorghum transformation
Liu, Guoquan and Godwin, Ian D. (2012). Highly efficient sorghum transformation. Plant Cell Reports, 31 (6), 999-1007. doi: 10.1007/s00299-011-1218-4
Control of flowering in pineapple by genome editing.
Doctor Philosophy
Sorghum genome editing
Optimze CRISPR/Cas9 system on sorghum.
Improve sorghum grain yield and grain quality through genome-editing.
Sorghum as a biofuel crop
Increase sorghum sugar content and sorghum biomass through genetic engineering.
Investigate genes involved in mitosis and meiosis pathway.
Stem vacuole-targetted sucrose isomerase enhances sugar content in sorghum
Liu, Guoquan, Zhang, Yan, Gong, Hao, Li, Shan, Pan, Yunrong, Davis, Christopher, Jing, Hai-Chun, Wu, Luguang and Godwin, Ian D. (2021). Stem vacuole-targetted sucrose isomerase enhances sugar content in sorghum. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 14 (1) 53, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s13068-021-01907-z
The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide
Liu, Guoquan, Lamont, Kyle C., Ahmad, Norazlina, Tomkins, Alison, Mudge, Stephen R., Gilding, Edward K. and Godwin, Ian D. (2017). The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 128 (1), 133-143. doi: 10.1007/s11240-016-1093-3
Highly efficient sorghum transformation
Liu, Guoquan and Godwin, Ian D. (2012). Highly efficient sorghum transformation. Plant Cell Reports, 31 (6), 999-1007. doi: 10.1007/s00299-011-1218-4
Biolistic DNA delivery and its applications in Sorghum bicolor
Liu, Guoquan, Massel, Karen, Tabet, Basam and Godwin, Ian D. (2020). Biolistic DNA delivery and its applications in Sorghum bicolor. Biolistic DNA delivery in plants: methods and protocols. (pp. 197-215) New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0356-7_10
Genome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 in sorghum through biolistic bombardment
Liu, Guoquan, Li, Jieqing and Godwin, Ian D. (2019). Genome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 in sorghum through biolistic bombardment. Methods in molecular biology. (pp. 169-183) New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9039-9_12
Genetic Transformation and Breeding
Liu, Guoquan, Gilding, Edward and Godwin, Ian D. (2014). Genetic Transformation and Breeding. Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Sorghum. (pp. 251-283) edited by Yi-Hong Wang and Chittaranjan Kole. Boca Raton: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b17153
Sorghum genetic transformation by particle bombardment
Liu, Guoquan, Campbell, Bradley C. and Godwin, Ian D. (2014). Sorghum genetic transformation by particle bombardment. In Robert J. Henry and Agnelo Furtado (Ed.), Cereal genomics: methods and protocols (pp. 219-234) New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi:10.1007/978-1-62703-715-0-18
Regioselective stilbene O-methylations in Saccharinae grasses
Lui, Andy C. W., Pow, Kah Chee, Lin, Nan, Lam, Lydia Pui Ying, Liu, Guoquan, Godwin, Ian D., Fan, Zhuming, Khoo, Chen Jing, Tobimatsu, Yuki, Wang, Lanxiang, Hao, Quan and Lo, Clive (2023). Regioselective stilbene O-methylations in Saccharinae grasses. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 3462, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38908-5
Borrell, Andrew K., Wong, Albert C. S., George-Jaeggli, Barbara, van Oosterom, Erik J., Mace, Emma S., Godwin, Ian D., Liu, Guoquan, Mullet, John E., Klein, Patricia E., Hammer, Graeme L., McLean, Greg, Hunt, Colleen and Jordan, David R. (2022). Genetic modification of PIN genes induces causal mechanisms of stay-green drought adaptation phenotype. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73 (19), 6711-6726. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erac336
An efficient sorghum transformation system using embryogenic calli derived from mature seeds
Wang, Lihua, Gao, Li, Liu, Guoquan, Meng, Ruirui, Liu, Yanlong and Li, Jieqin (2021). An efficient sorghum transformation system using embryogenic calli derived from mature seeds. PeerJ, 9 e11849, e11849. doi: 10.7717/peerj.11849
Tao, Yongfu, Trusov, Yuri, Zhao, Xianrong, Wang, Xuemin, Cruickshank, Alan W., Hunt, Colleen, van Oosterom, Erik J., Hathorn, Adrian, Liu, Guoquan, Ian, Godwin D., Botella, Jose R., Mace, Emma S. and Jordan, David R. (2021). Manipulating assimilate availability provides insight into the genes controlling grain size in sorghum. The Plant Journal, 108 (1) tpj.15437, 1-13. doi: 10.1111/tpj.15437
Current status and prospects of plant genome editing in Australia
Zhang, Yan, Restall, Jemma, Crisp, Peter, Godwin, Ian and Liu, Guoquan (2021). Current status and prospects of plant genome editing in Australia. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant, 57 (4), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s11627-021-10188-y
Stem vacuole-targetted sucrose isomerase enhances sugar content in sorghum
Liu, Guoquan, Zhang, Yan, Gong, Hao, Li, Shan, Pan, Yunrong, Davis, Christopher, Jing, Hai-Chun, Wu, Luguang and Godwin, Ian D. (2021). Stem vacuole-targetted sucrose isomerase enhances sugar content in sorghum. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 14 (1) 53, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s13068-021-01907-z
Wang, Lanxiang, Lui, Andy C W, Lam, Pui Ying, Liu, Guoquan, Godwin, Ian D and Lo, Clive (2020). Transgenic expression of flavanone 3‐hydroxylase redirects flavonoid biosynthesis and alleviates anthracnose susceptibility in sorghum. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 18 (11) pbi.13397, 2170-2172. doi: 10.1111/pbi.13397
Increasing protein content and digestibility in sorghum grain with a synthetic biology approach
Liu, Guoquan, Gilding, Edward K., Kerr, Edward D., Schulz, Benjamin L., Tabet, Basam, Hamaker, Bruce R. and Godwin, Ian D. (2019). Increasing protein content and digestibility in sorghum grain with a synthetic biology approach. Journal of Cereal Science, 85, 27-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2018.11.001
Peng, Cheng, Wang, Hua, Xu, Xiaoli, Wang, Xiaofu, Chen, Xiaoyun, Wei, Wei, Lai, Yongmin, Liu, Guoquan, Godwin, Ian Douglas, Li, Jieqin, Zhang, Ling and Xu, Junfeng (2018). High-throughput detection and screening of plants modified by gene editing using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The Plant Journal, 95 (3), 557-567. doi: 10.1111/tpj.13961
Up-regulation of lipid biosynthesis pathway increases the oil content in leaves of Sorghum bicolor
Vanhercke, Thomas, Belide, Srinivas, Taylor, Matthew C, El Tahchy, Anna, Okada, Shoko, Rolland, Vivien, Liu, Qing, Mitchell, Madeline, Shrestha, Pushkar, Venables, Ingrid, Ma, Lina, Blundell, Cheryl, Mathew, Anu, Ziolkowski, Lisa, Niesner, Nathalie, Hussain, Dawar, Dong, Bei, Liu, Guoquan, Godwin, Ian D, Lee, Jiwon, Rug, Melanie, Zhou, Xue-Rong, Singh, Surinder P and Petrie, James R (2018). Up-regulation of lipid biosynthesis pathway increases the oil content in leaves of Sorghum bicolor. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 17 (1), 220-232. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12959
The wheat Lr34 multipathogen resistance gene confers resistance to anthracnose and rust in sorghum
Schnippenkoetter, Wendelin, Lo, Clive, Liu, Guoquan, Dibley, Katherine, Chan, Wai Lung, White, Jodie, Milne, Ricky, Zwart, Alexander, Kwong, Eunjung, Keller, Beat, Godwin, Ian, Krattinger, Simon G. and Lagudah, Evans (2017). The wheat Lr34 multipathogen resistance gene confers resistance to anthracnose and rust in sorghum. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 15 (11), 1387-1396. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12723
Lamont, Kyle C., Mudge, Stephen R., Liu, Guoquan and Godwin, Ian D. (2017). Expression patterns of the native shrunken-2 promoter in sorghum bicolor visualised through use of the GFP reporter gene. Plant Cell Reports, 36 (11), 1689-1700. doi: 10.1007/s00299-017-2182-4
The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide
Liu, Guoquan, Lamont, Kyle C., Ahmad, Norazlina, Tomkins, Alison, Mudge, Stephen R., Gilding, Edward K. and Godwin, Ian D. (2017). The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 128 (1), 133-143. doi: 10.1007/s11240-016-1093-3
Characterization of the time evolution of starch structure from rice callus
Li, Cheng, Liu, Guoquan, Liu, Qiaoquan, Godwin, Ian D and Gilbert, Robert G (2015). Characterization of the time evolution of starch structure from rice callus. Carbohydrate Polymers, 127, 116-123. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.03.046
A robust tissue culture system for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]
Liu, Guoquan, Gilding, Edward K and Godwin, Ian D (2015). A robust tissue culture system for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. South African Journal of Botany, 98, 157-160. doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2015.03.179
Additive effects of three auxins and copper on sorghum in vitro root induction
Liu, Guoquan, Gilding, Edward K. and Godwin, Ian D. (2013). Additive effects of three auxins and copper on sorghum in vitro root induction. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant, 49 (2), 191-197. doi: 10.1007/s11627-012-9488-2
Highly efficient sorghum transformation
Liu, Guoquan and Godwin, Ian D. (2012). Highly efficient sorghum transformation. Plant Cell Reports, 31 (6), 999-1007. doi: 10.1007/s00299-011-1218-4
How do crops balance water supply and demand when water is limiting?
Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Oosterom, Erik van, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma, Godwin, Ian, Liu, Guoquan, Wong, Albert, Matiwos, Temesgen, Bantte, Kassahun, Christopher, Jack, Hickey, Lee, Richard, Cecile, Robinson, Hannah and Jordan, David (2020). How do crops balance water supply and demand when water is limiting?. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11–13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036208
Canopy and root plasticity for drought adaptation in cereals
Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, van Oosterom, Erik, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma, Godwin, Ian, Liu, G., Wong, Albert, Temesgen, M., Kassahun, B., Christopher, Jack, Hickey, Lee, Richard, Cecile, Robinson, Hannah and Jordan, David (2019). Canopy and root plasticity for drought adaptation in cereals. Climate Change Linked Stress Tolerance in Plants (M4) (Keystone Symposia), Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany, 13-16 May 2019.
Drought adaptation in sorghum: scaling-up from gene to farmer's field
Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, van Oosterom, Erik, Hammer, Graeme, Godwin, Ian, Liu, G., Wong, Albert, Hunt, Colleen and Jordan, David (2019). Drought adaptation in sorghum: scaling-up from gene to farmer's field. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 8-10 July 2019.
Sterile leucaena becomes a reality?
Mcmillan, Hayley E., Liu, Guoquan, Shelton, H. Max, Dalzell, Scott A., Godwin, Ian D., Gamage, Harshi, Sharman, Cleo and Lambrides, Christopher J. (2019). Sterile leucaena becomes a reality?. International Leucaena Conference (ILC), Brisbane, Australia, 29 October-3 November 2018. Cali, Colombia: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). doi: 10.17138/TGFT(7)74-79
Manipulating seed storage proteins to enhance sorghum digestibility
Liu, Guoquan (2016). Manipulating seed storage proteins to enhance sorghum digestibility. PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2016.497
Control of flowering in pineapple by genome editing.
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Sorghum genome editing
Optimze CRISPR/Cas9 system on sorghum.
Improve sorghum grain yield and grain quality through genome-editing.
Sorghum as a biofuel crop
Increase sorghum sugar content and sorghum biomass through genetic engineering.
Investigate genes involved in mitosis and meiosis pathway.
Sorghum transformation
Investigate genes to improve sorghum grain quality and grain yeild.