The Plant Cell Features February 2024 First Authors
Behind the manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose to pursue plant sciences and click on the links to read their articles.
Jie Wang
Jie Wang (he/his) is the First Author of A developmentally controlled cellular decompartmentalization process executes programmed cell death in the Arabidopsis root cap published 12 December 2023. He is a Distinguished research fellow at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Tobacco Research Institute. He received a 2020 Ph.D at Ghent University. Research interests include Plant cell signaling and plant development. Personal interests include Badminton，Basketball，and Mobile games.
Wang finished his Ph.D study under the supervision of Prof. Daniel Van Damme to dissect the endocytic machinery of TPLATE Complex-dependent endocytosis and its function during plant development. Then, he took the challenge of a cell biology project in Moritz Nowack’s group to understand the execution mechanism of Programmed Cell Death (PCD) using the lateral root cap cells as a model.
Zhitong Ren
Zhitong Ren is the First Author of The MBD–ACD DNA methylation reader complex recruits MICRORCHIDIA6 to regulate ribosomal RNA gene expression in Arabidopsis published 13 December 2023. Ren is an Associate Professor at Sichuan Agricultural University . Education background includes a 2022 Post-doctorate Plant Biology at Peking Universitya；2018 Ph.D Crop Breeding at China Agricultural University; and a 2012 Bachelor of Agricultural at China Agriculture University. Research interests include abiotic stress and crop quality. Personal interests include reading and walking.
On why to study plant science, Ren says, “Plant science is amazing and we could observe the life of a plant from germination to death.”
Lei Zhang
Lei Zhang is the First Author of Mitogen-activated protein kinases MPK3 and MPK6 phosphorylate receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase CDL1 to regulate soybean basal immunity published 1 February 2024. Zhang is a Postdoctor at Huazhong Agricultural University. Education background includes a 2021 Ph.D Plant pathology at Huazhong Agricultural University and a 2018 Plant pathology degree at Jiangxi Agricultural University. Research interests include Plant-nematode interactions, Plant immunity and Molecular basis of crops resistance to parasitic nematode. Personal interests include Reading, Hiking, Traveling.
“The “battle” for nutrients and living space between plants and pathogens is very interesting, and it is a profound demonstration of adaptive evolution,” says Zhang.
Zhang Yanhui
Zhang Yanhui is the First Author of Transcription factor PagMYB31 positively regulates cambium activity and negatively regulates xylem development in poplar published 10 February 2024. Zhang is a PHD candidate at the Chinese Academy of Forestry. In 2024, Zhang will earn a Ph.D in Tree Genetics and Breeding at Chinese Academy of Forestry. Research interests include Plant development. Personal interests include Photography and Reading.
Zhang studies plant science because plants play a crucial role in the environment, agriculture, and human life.
Yuhong Luo
Yuhong Luo (she/her) is the First Author of Pan-transcriptomic analysis reveals alternative splicing control of cold tolerance in rice published 12 February 2024. She is a PhD Candidate at Guangxi University. Education background includes a Ph.D. in Biology Studies at Guangxi University; (2019-Present ) and a B.Eng in Food Quality and Safety Studies at China Jiliang University (2019). Research interests include Abiotic stress and Alternative splicing. Personal interests include reading.
Luo would like to express her heartfelt gratitude to her doctoral advisor, Professor Chen Lingling, whose meticulous and rigorous scientific attitude has always been a source of inspiration. She is also deeply thankful to her mentor, Researcher Song Jiaming, for his patient and detailed guidance in both scientific methodologies and research thinking.
Sun Jinliang
Sun Jinliang (she/her) is the First Author of Pan-transcriptomic analysis reveals alternative splicing control of cold tolerance in rice published 12 February 2024. She is currently a student pursuing a PhD degree. Education background includes a 2017 BSc Biology Qingdao Agricultural University. Research interests include Abiotic stress. Personal interests include running. Jinliang is inspired by her doctoral supervisor.
Yuanyuan Zhong
Yuanyuan Zhong (she/her) is the First Author of Pan-transcriptomic analysis reveals alternative splicing control of cold tolerance in rice published 12 February 2024. She is a PhD Candidate at Guangxi University. Education background includes 2020-Present Ph.D. in Biology at Guangxi University and a 2019 B.Eng in Pharmaceutical Engineering at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Research interests include Abiotic stress and Splicing factor. Personal interests include running and reading.
During her undergraduate studies, Zhong developed a strong interest in plant science. In September 2020, she joined the College of Life Sciences at Guangxi University, where she began researching alternative splicing regulation in rice under cold stress under the joint guidance of Professor Ling-Ling Chen and Researcher Jia-Ming Song. This experience sparked her passion for studying stress tolerance in rice. Zhong continued research in Professor Chen’s lab during her Ph.D., focusing on splicing factors regulating cold-induced alternative splicing in rice. The intricate mechanisms and potential applications in agriculture have fueled her love for plant science. Her mentors, Professor Chen and Researcher Song, have been instrumental in inspiring and guiding her research journey.
Zhang Yanhui
Zhang Yanhui is the First Author of Transcription factor PagMYB31 positively regulates cambium activity and negatively regulates xylem development in poplar published 10 February 2024 . Zhang is a PHD candidate of Chinese Academy of Forestry, pursuing a Ph.D in Tree Genetics and Breeding. Research interests include plant development and personal interests include photography and reading.
“Plants play a crucial role in the environment, agriculture, and human life,” says First Author Zhang.
Guifang Zhang
Guifang Zhang is the First Author of The F-box protein RhSAF destabilizes the gibberellic acid receptor RhGID1 to mediate ethylene-induced petal senescence in rose published 5 February 2024. Zhang is a Postdoctor at Shenzhen Polytechnic University. Education background includes a 2023 Ph.D in Ornamental Horticulture at China Agricultural University, a 2017 MSc in Pomology at Ningxia University, and a 2013 BS in Biotechnology at Changzhi College. EResearch interests include Rose senescence and Rose hot stress. Personal interests include Reading and Exercise. Teacher Yunhe Jang inspires Zhang in research.
Tianyi Fan
Tianyi Fan is the First Author of The chromatin remodeler ERCC6 and the histone chaperone NAP1 are involved in apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-mediated DNA repair published 17 February 2024. Fan is a Ph.D student at Fudan University. Education background includes a 2022 Ph.D student (ongoing) Plant molecular biology at Fudan University. Research interests include plant DNA repair and personal interests include sports.
Fan’s Ph.D mentor, Professor Yan Zhu, is an esteemed researcher specializing in plant science. Under his guidance, Fan developed scientific thinking through rigorous exploration of plant biochemistry and molecular experiments. Following his lead, Fan also developed a profound passion for the field of plant science.
Xiaolong Guo
Xiaolong Guo (he/him) is the First Author of Maternal nitric oxide homeostasis impacts female gametophyte development under optimal and stress conditions published 20 February 2024. He is a Doctor at Northwest A&F University. Education background includes a 2023 Dr., College of Agronomy at Northwest A&F University and a 2017 B.S., Qingdao Agricultural University. Research interests include plant development and abiotic stress. Personal interests include football. Guo became interested in plant science through a fascination with nature and a desire to understand the fundamental processes that sustain life. He loves plant science because it unveils the intricate mechanisms behind plant growth, adaptation, and their essential role in ecosystems. Guo’s inspiration comes from various mentors in the field who have guided and fueled my passion for exploring the wonders of plant biology.
Junzhe Wan
Junzhe Wan is the First Author of Maternal nitric oxide homeostasis impacts female gametophyte development under optimal and stress conditions published 20 February 2024. She is a Postdoctor at Northwest A&F University. Her education background includes a 2014-2021 Ph.D in Crop science at Northwest A&F University. Research interests are Nitric oxide, Plant reproduction, and Abiotic stress. Personal interests are walking and yoga.
How plants sense external environmental signals and coordinate their own growth and development is an intriguing question, for First Author Junzhe Wang.
Ke Wang
Ke Wang is the First Author of The Myb73–GDPD2–GA2ox1 transcriptional regulatory module confers phosphate deficiency tolerance in soybean published 12 February 2024. Currently, Ke Wang is at Henan University. Education background includes a Ph.D from Henan Agricultural University (2016 ); a MSc from Henan Agricultural University (2014); and a BSc from Henan Agricultural University (2010). Research interests include Mechanism of photosynthesis in rice and personal interests include reading.
“I like to be full of life and vitality,” says Ke Wang on what inspires them to study plants.
