Bo Zhang
Bo Zhang
Soybean, Breeding, Molecular Biology
For almost 20 years, I have been working on soybeans in both public and private sectors. Since 2016, I have released more than 10 soybean cultivars including both non-genetically modified organisms and genetically modified organisms.
My major fields of interest are soybean breeding and genetics. My breeding objectives are to develop new and improved, herbicide tolerant, and conventional soybean varieties adapted to various production systems in Virginia and the mid-Atlantic region. I aim for a steady flow in order to incorporate value-added traits in specialty soybeans and to reinforce Virginian soybean growers’ competitive ability in various markets.
I first discovered a passion for this work ...
When I selected the winners from hundreds of breeding lines.
My work impacts society ...
Of agriculture. Farmers who grow soybeans directly benefit from my work.
I see the future in my field ...
Molecular techniques will play a heavy role in breeding in order to get target variations in a shorter time.
I wish I invented ...
A robot to take field notes for me.
My favorite quote ...
"Failure is the mother of success."
In my free time ...
Outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and gardening.
Something that excites me in my field ...
Visiting fields to examine soybean materials that I developed.
Groups or organizations I am involved in ...
Translational plant science at Virginia Tech.
Words of encouragement to an aspiring inventor ...
Be creative.
If I had a superpower, it would be ...
Make delicious food in one minute.
Last article I read ...
Pan-Genome of Wild and Cultivated Soybeans. 2020. Cell. 182:162-176
Best part of working at Virginia Tech ...
Support from my bosses and colleagues.
Additional Highlights
Bo Zhang | Research Assistant Professor
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
(540) 231-1731
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - faculty bio page