1. Introduction to the Research Team

This scientific innovation team focuses on the distinctive plant groups and unique habitats in Southwest China, conducting research in plant taxonomy and systematic evolution to analyze species differentiation patterns and formation mechanisms, as well as to investigate the evolutionary history of economically significant plants. By integrating modern molecular biology and bioinformatics technologies, the team aims to make breakthroughs in understanding the formation mechanisms of plant environmental adaptability, while cloning key functional genes related to superior traits and elucidating their molecular mechanisms. Additionally, the team systematically studies the mechanisms underlying plant disease development and develops control and prevention technology systems. Through establishing an innovation chain encompassing "basic research- technological development- application promotion," the team deeply integrates macro-level biological approaches with micro-level molecular biology research paradigms. This integrated effort provides scientific foundations and technological support for critical needs such as biodiversity conservation of plateau-specific plants, sustainable development and utilization of plant resources, and plant biosafety.

2. Specific Research Directions

• (1) Plant Taxonomy and Biodiversity Conservation. Focusing on regional biodiversity, we employ phylogenetic approaches to establish plant taxonomic frameworks, elucidate species differentiation patterns and the evolutionary history of economically important plants, and reveal the formation mechanisms of plateau flora. Concurrently, we conduct research on the introduction, domestication, development, and utilization of distinctive plateau-specific plants.  

• (2) Plant Adaptation Mechanisms and Functional Gene Research. By integrating molecular biology and bioinformatics technologies, we decipher the genetic basis of plant environmental adaptation, clone and functionally validate key genes associated with stress-resistant/quality traits, and construct trait-gene association maps.

• (3) Mechanisms and Control of Plant Diseases. We systematically investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying plant disease occurrence, develop early disease warning systems based on molecular biology and serological methods, innovate environmentally friendly biological control technologies, and establish regional plant biosecurity prevention and control systems.

3. Research Projects

• (1) National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Regional Science Fund Project, "Cloning and Functional Characterization of the Key Enzyme Gene VdCAT for CA Synthesis in Vaccinium dunalianum as a Natural Skin-Whitening Agent" (Project No. 31960073, 2020.01–2023.12, ongoing research), Contract funding: 390,000 yuan.  

• (2) National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Regional Science Fund Project, "Study on the Flora and Diversity of Alpine Ice-Margin Zone Seed Plants in Shigatse and Shannan Regions, Tibet" (Project No. 32060054, 2021.01–2024.12, ongoing research), Contract funding: 350,000 yuan.  

• (3) National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Regional Science Fund Project, "Investigation of Oil Content Dynamics During Seed Development and Identification of Key Genes Involved in Oil Biosynthesis in Paeonia delavayi" (Project No. 32060089, 2021.01–2024.12, ongoing research), Contract funding: 350,000 yuan.  

• (4) Yunnan Xingdian Talent Program for Young Top Talents, "Research on Biodiversity and Domestication of Alpine Flower Resources in Northwest Yunnan" (2022.11–2027.10), Contract funding: 800,000 yuan.  

• (5) Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Talent and Platform Program, "Reserve Talent Program for Young Academic and Technical Leaders" (Project No. 202405AC350032, 2024.01–2028.12), Contract funding: 120,000 yuan. 

• (6) Yunnan Provincial Basic Research Program (General Project), "Survey of Viral Diseases in Paeonia delavayi and Molecular Phylogenetic Identification of Dominant Viruses in Yunnan" (Project No. 202401AT070296, 2024.03–2027.02), Contract funding: 100,000 yuan.  

• (7) Yunnan Provincial Basic Research Program (Joint Agricultural Project), Molecular Mechanisms of Chlorogenic Acid Biosynthesis in Vaccinium dunalianum" (Project No. 202301BD070001-247, 2024.01–2026.12), Contract funding: 100,000 yuan.  

• (8) Yunnan Provincial Basic Research Program (General Project), "Mitochondrial Genome Structure and Phylogenetic Relationships of Camellia Species" (Project No. 202501CF070085, 2025.03–2028.02), Contract funding: 100,000 yuan.  

• (9) Yunnan Provincial Basic Research Program (Youth Project), "Identification of Fusarium oxysporum Physiological Races and Evaluation of Disease Resistance in Eustoma grandiflorum Varieties in Yunnan" (Project No. 202501AU070072, 2025.03–2028.02), Contract funding: 50,000 yuan.  

4. Team Leader

Ding Yong (Professor, dingyong@swfu.edu.cn)

5. Team Members

Xu Bo (Associate Professor, alpine_flora@swfu.edu.cn)

Zhang Pengyuan (Associate Professor, acception@yeah.net)

Kui Mengyi (Lecturer, kuimengyi@126.com)

Zhang Qiong (Lecturer, zhangqiong@swfu.edu.cn)

6. Research Outputs

(1) Awards

• Ding Yong, Fan Fangyu, Liu Xiaozhu. "Breeding of High-Quality Varieties and Energy-Saving Cultivation Technology Innovation and Application in Dendrobium officinale," Third Prize of Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award, June 2023.

(2) Patents

• Zhang Pengyuan, Wang Juan, Tong Haizhen, et al. "ISSR-PCR Reaction System, Marker Method, and Application for Malania oleifera" [P]. Patent No. CN116445657B, September 8, 2023.  

(3) Monograph

• Xu Bo (Associate Editor). Mother of Gardens (Volume 6: Meconopsis), Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House, 2024.  

• Xu Bo, Li Zhimin, Sun Hang. Seed Plants of the Alpine Subnival Belt in the Hengduan Mountains. Beijing: Science Press, 2014.

(4) Publications

• An XH, Li GZ, Chen AY, Zhao P, Ding Y*. 2025. Identification and expression analysis of PAL genes related to chlorogenic acid synthesis in Vaccinium dunalianum Wight [J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, doi:10.3389/fpls.2025.1544303.

• Zhang AM, Liu J, Li WC, Yang LH, Duan WJ, Zhao P, Pu ZY and Ding Y*. 2024. Revealing the dynamic changes of metabolites and molecular mechanisms of chlorogenic acid accumulation during the leaf development of Vaccinium dunalianum based on multi-omic analyses [J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15: 1440589.

• Ding Y*, Wang XT, Wang F, Shao YL, Zhang AM, Chang W*. 2023. The effects of chilling stress on antioxidant enzymes activities and proline, malondialdehyde, soluble sugar contents in three Paphiopedilum species [J]. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, 70: 61.

• Zhang Q, RA Folk, Mo ZQ, Ye H, Zhang ZY, Peng H, Zhao JL, Yang SX*, Yu XQ*.2023. Phylotranscriptomic analyses reveal deep gene tree discordance in Camellia (Theaceae) [J]. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 188: 107912.

• Zhang Q, Zhao L, RA Folk, Zhao JL, NA Zamora, Yang SX, DE Soltis, PS Soltis, Gao LM, Peng H*, Yu XQ*. 2022. Phylotranscriptomics of Theaceae: generic level relationships, reticulation and whole-genome duplication [J]. Annals of Botany, 129: 457-471.

• Zhang Q, Wu FY, Huang YH, Ma JL, Yang SX*. 2022. Camellia piloflora (Theaceae), a new yellow camellia from Guangxi, South China [J]. Phytotaxa, 574(2):179-184.

• Zhang PY, Li XQ , Ren LH. 2020. A potyvirus isolated from Mirabilis jalapa in China represents a new species[J]. Archives of Virology, 165(2). DOI:10.1007/s00705-019-04453-0.

• Zhang Pengyuan, Huang Jiuyan, Tong Haizhen. 2024. Establishment and Validation of the ISSR-PCR Reaction System for Malania oleifera [J]. Journal of Southern Agriculture, 55(3): 834–845.  

• Li Xue, Shao Yalin, Chen Haitao, Zhao Ping, Ding Yong. 2022. Expression Response of Heat Shock Protein Genes in Vaccinium dunalianum to Temperature Stress [J]. Journal of Central South University of Forestry & Technology, 42(2): 139–146, 168.

• Li Xue, Li Guoze, Yang Ling, Zhao Ping, Ding Yong. 2020. Advances in Tissue Culture Techniques for Vaccinium Species [J]. Plant Physiology Journal, 56(5): 921–930.  

• Shao Yalin, Si Junbo, Chang Wei, Shi Jialian, Zhou Xiang, Ding Yong. 2019. Comparison of Genomic DNA Extraction Methods for Paphiopedilum armeniacum [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 46(12): 2449–2454.