National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops
The Chai’s lab can be found at the Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), a top-ranked agricultural university located in Wuhan, a dynamic city in central China. Dr. Lijun Chai received his Ph.D. from Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) in 2012 and joined as a lecturer. Later, in 2015 he was promoted to associate professor. Now he is serving as a full Professor at HZAU. During his Ph.D. he carried out a cooperative project about Self-incompatibility at the University of Birmingham, UK, in the laboratory of Prof. Vernonica Franklin-Tong, FRS (Fellow of the Royal Society).
Chai’s lab is mainly focused on the following three research aspects: (i) Molecular mechanism of self-incompatibility in Rutaceae family. (ii) Molecular mechanism of parthenocarpy in Citrus. (iii) Collection, evaluation and utilization of Citrus germplasm resources (primitive, wild and cultivated Citrus). His research group uses a variety of genetic, genomic, biochemical, and cell biological techniques to understand the fundamentals of plant sexual reproduction. His team identified S-RNase genes in citrus and provide the first definitive evidence that S-RNases function as the female S-determinants in citrus, using recombinant S-RNases to inhibit pollen in an S-specific manner (Nature Plants, 2020, 131-142).
Chai’s research group consists of 11 MS students and 6 Ph.D. students, including 1 Ph.D. student from Pakistan. His lab organizes weekly and monthly lab seminars to provide a chance for students to share their research progress and creative ideas. His lab is looking forward to making new progress in the fields of self-incompatibility and parthenocarpy. If you are interested in enjoying hot noodles, lakes and fishing, Wuhan is a perfect place. If you want to know more about his group, make contact with Chai through email.
Transcriptome analysis of a spontaneous mutant in sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] during fruit development.
Journal of experimental botany , 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19218315
CgSL2, an S-like RNase gene in 'Zigui shatian' pummelo (Citrus grandis Osbeck), is involved in ovary senescence.
Molecular biology reports Jan, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 20306304
Molecular analysis and expression of a floral organ-relative F-box gene isolated from 'Zigui shatian' pummelo (Citrus grandis Osbeck).
Molecular biology reports Oct, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 21125334
Exploiting BAC-end sequences for the mining, characterization and utility of new short sequences repeat (SSR) markers in Citrus.
Molecular biology reports May, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22170603
Generation, functional analysis and utility of Citrus grandis EST from a flower-derived cDNA library.
Molecular biology reports Jul, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22477149
Transcriptional profiling of genes involved in embryogenic, non-embryogenic calluses and somatic embryogenesis of Valencia sweet orange by SSH-based microarray.
Planta Oct, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22622359
Comparative transcript profiling of gene expression between seedless Ponkan mandarin and its seedy wild type during floral organ development by suppression subtractive hybridization and cDNA microarray.
BMC genomics Aug, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22897898
An integrative analysis of the transcriptome and proteome of the pulp of a spontaneous late-ripening sweet orange mutant and its wild type improves our understanding of fruit ripening in citrus.
Journal of experimental botany Apr, 2014 | Pubmed ID: 24600016
Comparative transcriptome analyses between a spontaneous late-ripening sweet orange mutant and its wild type suggest the functions of ABA, sucrose and JA during citrus fruit ripening.
PloS one , 2014 | Pubmed ID: 25551568
De novo transcriptome assembly of pummelo and molecular marker development.
PloS one , 2015 | Pubmed ID: 25799271
Genome-wide identification, classification and analysis of HD-ZIP gene family in citrus, and its potential roles in somatic embryogenesis regulation.
Gene Dec, 2015 | Pubmed ID: 26232336
Genome-wide identification and functional analysis of S-RNase involved in the self-incompatibility of citrus.
Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG Apr, 2017 | Pubmed ID: 27933381
Reproduction in woody perennial Citrus: an update on nucellar embryony and self-incompatibility.
Plant reproduction Mar, 2018 | Pubmed ID: 29457194
The Citrus Transcription Factor CsMADS6 Modulates Carotenoid Metabolism by Directly Regulating Carotenogenic Genes.
Plant physiology Apr, 2018 | Pubmed ID: 29463773
SLAF-Based Construction of a High-Density Genetic Map and Its Application in QTL Mapping of Carotenoids Content in Citrus Fruit.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Jan, 2019 | Pubmed ID: 30589260
Genome sequencing and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of an early flowering Mini-Citrus (Fortunella hindsii).
Plant biotechnology journal Nov, 2019 | Pubmed ID: 31004551
Natural Variation in CCD4 Promoter Underpins Species-Specific Evolution of Red Coloration in Citrus Peel.
Molecular plant 09, 2019 | Pubmed ID: 31102783
Evolution of self-compatibility by a mutant S-RNase in citrus.
Nature plants Feb, 2020 | Pubmed ID: 32055045
Ethylene activation of carotenoid biosynthesis by a novel transcription factor CsERF061.
Journal of experimental botany Apr, 2021 | Pubmed ID: 33543285
Citrus transcription factor CsHB5 regulates abscisic acid biosynthetic genes and promotes senescence.
The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology Oct, 2021 | Pubmed ID: 34414618
Downregulated expression of S-RNase attenuates self-incompatibility in "Guiyou No. 1" pummelo.
Horticulture research Sep, 2021 | Pubmed ID: 34465762
Structural variation and parallel evolution of apomixis in citrus during domestication and diversification.
National science review Oct, 2022 | Pubmed ID: 36415319
Jasmonate activates a CsMPK6-CsMYC2 module that regulates the expression of β-citraurin biosynthetic genes and fruit coloration in orange (Citrus sinensis).
The Plant cell Mar, 2023 | Pubmed ID: 36530163
Transcription factor CsMADS3 coordinately regulates chlorophyll and carotenoid pools in Citrus hesperidium.
Plant physiology May, 2023 | Pubmed ID: 37224514
Genomic conservation of crop wild relatives: A case study of citrus.
PLoS genetics Jun, 2023 | Pubmed ID: 37339133