Assoc. Prof. Dr. Brande Wulff | Plant Pathology | Best Researcher Award
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
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BRANDE BRUCE HERTEL WULFF: PIONEER IN PLANT GENETICS š¾
INTRODUCTION
Brande Bruce Hertel Wulff is a distinguished plant geneticist renowned for his groundbreaking work in cereal crop disease resistance. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions, leading to the development of disease-resistant wheat varieties.
Ā EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS
Wulff’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, where he graduated with first-class honors in 1997. He subsequently pursued a Ph.D. at The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, completing it in 2001.
Ā PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS
Wulff’s career trajectory includes:
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Postdoctoral Researcher: The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, UK (2002-2004); IBMCP-CSIC, Valencia, Spain (2004-2008); IBMP-CNRS, Strasbourg, France (2008-2010).
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Research Manager: The Sainsbury Laboratory 2Blades Group, Norwich, UK (2010-2014).
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Group Leader: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK; Tenure Track (2014-2018), Tenured (2018-2021).
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Associate Professor: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia (2021-present).
Ā CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS ON Plant PathologyĀ
Wulff’s research focuses on cloning disease resistance genes from wild relatives of wheat and integrating them into cultivated varieties. Notable contributions include:
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Gene Discovery: Identified the wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr43, encoding an unusual protein kinase.
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Genomic Resources: Developed a wheat resistance gene atlas to aid breeding programs.
Ā IMPACT AND INFLUENCE
Wulff’s work has led to the development of wheat varieties with enhanced resistance to diseases like stem rust and blast fungus, contributing to global food security.
Ā ACADEMIC CITATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
With an H-index of 48 and over 16,000 citations, Wulff has authored 83 papers, 5 book chapters, and holds 8 patents. Selected publications include:
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“The wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr43 encodes an unusual protein kinase.” Nature Genetics, 2023.
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“A wheat kinase and immune receptor form the host-specificity barrier against the blast fungus.” Nature Plants, 2023.
Ā HONORS & AWARDS
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2021-2025: US$4.2M from KAUST, RDIA, USDA-NIFA, and 2Blades Foundation.
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2010-2021: £3.6M from BBSRC, 2Blades Foundation, Newton Foundation, EU, Limagrain, Monsanto, and Bayer.
Ā LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS
Through his research and mentorship, Wulff continues to influence the field of plant genetics, paving the way for future advancements in crop improvement.
Ā FINAL NOTE
Wulff’s dedication to plant genetics has led to innovations in crop disease resistance, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.
Ā NOTABLE PUBLICATIONSĀ
A single NLR gene confers resistance to leaf and stripe rust in wheat
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Authors: D. Sharma, R. Avni, J.J. Gutierrez-Gonzalez, A. Minz-Dub, A. Sharon
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Journal: Nature Communications
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Year: 2024
Origin and evolution of the bread wheat D genome
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Authors: E. Cavalet-Giorsa, A. GonzƔlez-MuƱoz, N. Athiyannan, B.B.H. Wulff, S.G. Krattinger
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Journal: Nature
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Year: 2024
Harnessing landrace diversity empowers wheat breeding
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Authors: S. Cheng, C. Feng, L.U. Wingen, S. Huang, S. Griffiths
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Journal: Nature
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Year: 2024
The wheat powdery mildew resistance gene Pm4 also confers resistance to wheat blast
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Authors: T. OāHara, A. Steed, R. Goddard, C. Uauy, P. Nicholson
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Journal: Nature Plants
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Year: 2024
Single amino acid change alters specificity of the multi-allelic wheat stem rust resistance locus SR9
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Authors: J. Zhang, J. Nirmala, S. Chen, M.N. Rouse, E.S. Lagudah
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Journal: Nature Communications
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Year: 2023