一、 简介：
赵天永，教授，博士生导师。1990年本科毕业于河北农业大学园艺系。1998年获中国农业大学作物遗传育种专业博士学位。1998至2011年曾在美国加州大学伯克利分校（U.C.Berkeley）和肯塔基大学（University of Kentucky）从事博士后研究并随后任职Scientist I、Scientist II。2011年3月起就职于西北农林科技大学,主要从事玉米抗逆分子生物学研究工作，发现了棉子糖是控制玉米耐旱耐热及种子活力的关键因素，通过调控棉子糖代谢能够提高玉米的耐旱和耐热能力；解析了玉米异天冬氨酸甲基转移酶调控种子活力的分子机制。主持国家转基因专项重点项目、国家自然基金面上项目和陕西省自然基金项目。目前承担本科生《分子生物学》英文教学工作以及博士生的《生命科学研究进展》课程。
二、相关论文 （第一或通讯作者论文）
1. Zhang Y. Dirk LMA, Zheng J, Chai J, Song X, Cao J, Wang H, Liu Y, Liu Y, Zhen S, Fu J, Wang G, Li S, Hunt AG, Downie B, Zhao T (2025), Natural Variation in the ZmPIMT1 Promoter Enhances Seed Aging Tolerance by Regulating PABP2 Repair in Maize. Plant Cell koaf217, https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf217 .
2. Qi J, Zhang C, Yang L, Liu Y, Wang G, Li S, Dirk LMA, Downie B, Zhao T (2025), Two alternatively spliced variants of ZmHSF12 regulate the balance of plant growth and heat tolerance in maize and Arabidopsis. Plant J. DOI:10.1111/tpj.70372
3. Zhang Y, Zhen S, Zhang C, Zhang J, Shangguan X, Lu J, Wu Q, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Wang G, Zhao T*, Fu J* (2025), Natural variation of CT2 affects the embryo/kernel weight ratio in maize.J Genet Genomics. 52 (3):432-440.
4. Zhang C, Zhang H, Lin W, Chai J, Shangguan X, Zhao T (2025), ZmDREB1A controls plant immunity via regulating salicylic acid metabolism in maize. Plant J. 121 (2):e17226.
5. Li D, Zhang C, Dong Z, Yang L, Wang H, Wang X, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Zhao T (2025), ZmDREB1A Regulates myo-Inositol-1-phosphate Synthase 2 Controlling Maize Germination at Low Temperatures. J Agric Food Chem. 73 (13):7562-7573.
6. Yan D, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Li D, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Zhao T (2024), Raffinose catabolism enhances maize waterlogging tolerance by stimulating adventitious root growth and development. J Exp Bot. 75 (18):5955-5970.
7. Zhang Y, Song X, Zhang W, Liu F, Wang C, Liu Y, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Zhao T (2023), Maize PIMT2 repairs damaged 3-METHYLCROTONYL COA CARBOXYLASE in mitochondria, affecting seed vigor. Plant J. 115 (1):220-235.
8. Liu Y, Li T, Zhang C, Zhang W, Deng N, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Zhao T (2023), Raffinose positively regulates maize drought tolerance by reducing leaf transpiration. Plant J. 114 (1):55-67.
9. Zhang Y, Li D, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Zhao T (2021), ZmAGA1 Hydrolyzes RFOs Late during the Lag Phase of Seed Germination, Shifting Sugar Metabolism toward Seed Germination Over Seed Aging Tolerance. J Agric Food Chem. 69 (39):11606-11615.
10. Han Q, Chen K, Yan D, Hao G, Qi J, Wang C, Dirk LMA, Bruce Downie A, Gong J, Wang J, Zhao T (2020), ZmDREB2A regulates ZmGH3.2 and ZmRAFS, shifting metabolism towards seed aging tolerance over seedling growth. Plant J. 104 (1):268-282.
11. Li T, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Li X, Hao G, Han Q, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Ruan YL, Wang J, Wang G, Zhao T (2020), Raffinose synthase enhances drought tolerance through raffinose synthesis or galactinol hydrolysis in maize and Arabidopsis plants. J Biol Chem. 295 (23):8064-8077.
12. Han Q, Qi J, Hao G, Zhang C, Wang C, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Zhao T (2020), ZmDREB1A Regulates RAFFINOSE SYNTHASE Controlling Raffinose Accumulation and Plant Chilling Stress Tolerance in Maize. Plant Cell Physiol. 61 (2):331-341.
13. Gu L, Jiang T, Zhang C, Li X, Wang C, Zhang Y, Li T, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Zhao T (2019), Maize HSFA2 and HSBP2 antagonistically modulate raffinose biosynthesis and heat tolerance in Arabidopsis. Plant J. 100 (1):128-142.
14. Zhang Y, Sun Q, Zhang C, Hao G, Wang C, Dirk LMA, Downie AB, Zhao T (2019), Maize VIVIPAROUS1 Interacts with ABA INSENSITIVE5 to Regulate GALACTINOL SYNTHASE2 Expression Controlling Seed Raffinose Accumulation. J Agric Food Chem. 67 (15):4214-4223.
15. Li T, Zhang Y, Wang D, Liu Y, Dirk LMA, Goodman J, Downie AB, Wang J, Wang G, Zhao T (2017), Regulation of Seed Vigor by Manipulation of Raffinose Family Oligosaccharides in Maize and Arabidopsis thaliana. Mol Plant. 10 (12):1540-1555.
16. Gu L, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Li T, Dirk LM, Downie B, Zhao T (2016), ZmGOLS2, a target of transcription factor ZmDREB2A, offers similar protection against abiotic stress as ZmDREB2A. Plant Mol Biol. 90 (1-2):157-170.
17. Han Q, Li T, Zhang L, Dirk, LMA，Downie B, Zhao T (2015), Functional analysis of the 5’ regulatory region of the maize ALKALINE ALPHA-GALACTOSIDASE1 gene. Plant Mol. Bio. Reporter. 33:1361-1370.
18. Gu L, Han Z, Zhang L, Downie B, Zhao T (2013), Functional analysis of the 5' regulatory region of the maize GALACTINOL SYNTHASE2 gene. Plant Sci .213:38-45.
19. Zhao T, Corum III JW, Mullen J, Meeley RB, Helentjaris T, Martin D, and Downie B (2006), An alkaline a-galactosidase transcript is present in maize seeds and cultured embryo cells, and accumulates during stress. Seed Science Research. 16:107-121 .
20. Zhao T, Thacker R, Corum III JW, Snyder JC, Meeley RB, Obendorf R, Downie B (2006), Expression of the maize GALACTINOL SYNTHASE gene family. I) Expression of two different genes during seed development and germination. Physiol. Plant. 121(4):634-646.
21. Zhao T, Martin D, Meeley RB, and Downie B (2006), Expression of the maize GALACTINOL SYNTHASE gene family. II) Kernel abscission, environmental stress and myo -inositol influences accumulation of transcript in developing seeds and callus cells. Physiol. Plant.121 (4): 647-655.
22. Zhao T, Meeley RB, and Downie B (2003), Aberrant processing of a Maize GALACTINOL SYNTHASE transcript is caused by heat stress. Plant Sci. 165:245-256.
联系方式：tzhao2@nwafu.edu.cn （本实验室招聘有作物遗传育种、生化化学、分子生物学背景的博士后，待遇从优）。