The Plant Cell Features March 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.
Xinyong Wang
Xinyong Wang is the First Author of OPEN STOMATA1 phosphorylates CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED CHANNELs to trigger Ca2+ signaling for ABA-induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis published 5 March 2024. Wang is a PH. D student at CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Education background includes a 2020 Master of Agronomy at Southwest University and a 2017 Bachelor of agronomy at Gansu Agricultural University. Research interests include Abiotic stress. Personal interests include photography and reading.
Why does Xinyong Wang study plant sciences? “Plants have a beautiful appearance and many internal mechanisms that deeply attract me. Living in a changeable environment, plants need to constantly feel these environmental changes, and it is very interesting to explore these internal mechanisms. My supervisor mainly engages in research related to stress biology, and he encourages me to make achievements in the field of osmotic stress.”
Yang Yang
Yang Yang (she/her) is the First Author of OPEN STOMATA1 phosphorylates CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED CHANNELs to trigger Ca2+ signaling for ABA-induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis published 5 March 2024. She is pursuing a Post-Doc of CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Science (CEMPS) , Shanghai, China. Her education background includes a 2024 Ph.D from CEMPS and UCAS and a 2018 BSc from Nanjing Agricultural University. Research interests include Abiotic stress. Personal interests include reading and watching table tennis matches.
“During the semester of the plant physiology major course during my undergraduate study, I became curious about the process of plants responding to various external environment changes, especially the process of plants adjusting the stomatal aperture by adapting to the changes of water potential in stomatal guard cells. But at that time, my understanding of stomatal movement only stayed in the shallow: ‘intracellular water potential increases, stomata opens; the intracellular water potential decreases and the stomata closes’ At the same time, the more knowledge I learn, the more questions I accumulate in my heart, which also urges me to enter a higher learning platform, hoping that the questions in my heart can be answered.”
Yan-Qiu Tan
Yan-Qiu Tan is the First Author of OPEN STOMATA1 phosphorylates CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED CHANNELs to trigger Ca2+ signaling for ABA-induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis published 5 March 2024. Tan is an Associate researcher at CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences. Education Background includes 2011 Ph.D. in Botany from CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS) and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and a 2007 BSc Biology Base Class in Inner Mongolia University. Research interests include Ca2+ signalling, ABA transduction pathway. Personal interests include education.
“I would like to thank my mentor Professor Wang Yongfei for providing a flexible and relaxed experimental environment, which is unique for my inspiration and independence. In terms of daily life, Professor Wang gives consideration to every laboratory member, adjusts his guidance according to their different expectations, ensures everyone has a successful graduation and career development.”
Wenliang Li
Wenliang Li (her) is the First Author of Heat-induced SUMOylation differently controls bacteria effectors in plant cells published 6 March 2024. She just graduated with her Ph.D from South China Normal University. Li’s education background includes a 2023 Ph.D. in Botany at South China Normal University; 2019 Master in Crop Science at Henan Agricultural University; 2016 Bachelor in Agronomy at Henan Agricultural University. Research interests include plant immunity. Personal interests include Delicacies and Hiking.
“My interest in plant science originated from witnessing diseases that affected food crops in my family’s field during my childhood. I vividly remember my parents routinely applying pesticides, which sparked my strong curiosity about plant science. During my master’s study, I focused on investigating quantitative traits related to corn yield. It was during this time that I solidified my desire to pursue a career in plant science. The objective of plant science is to adroitly apply scientific knowledge to the realm of agricultural production. Consequently, during my PhD, I had the privilege of conducting research under the guidance of my esteemed supervisors, Prof. Chengwei Yang and Prof. Jianbin Lai. I was fascinated by the profound impact that minuscule pathogenic microorganisms can have on large and robust plants, and their intimate connection to the environment.”
Linzhou Huang
Linzhou Huang (He/His) is the First Author of Rapid depletion of target proteins in plants by an inducible protein degradation system published 06 March 2024. Huang is an Assistant Professor at Zhejiang A&F University. Education background includes a 2018 Ph.D in Genetics at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; 2012 MS in Crop Genetics and Breeding at Northwest A&F University; 2009 BS in Seed Science and Engineering at Northwest A&F University. Research interests include Rice plant architecture, Abiotic stress tolerance mediated by protein ubiquitination. Personal interests include Table tennis, fishing.
“I became interested in plant science after I got my Bachelor’s degree in seed science and engineering. Since then, I have realized the importance of plant science to our food supply.”
Yuxiang Li
Yuxiang Li is the First Author of The OsEIL1–OsWOX11 transcription factor module controls rice crown root development in response to soil compaction published 15 March 2024. Li is at the Biotechnology research institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Education background includes 2021 MSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and a 2018 BSc Biotechnology at Jiangsu University. Research interests include Effects of phytohormones on rice root development in response to abiotic stresses. Personal interests include Hiking and traveling.
“My supervisor, professor Huang Rongfeng, inspires me deeply and gives me an excellent platform and professional guidance. I realized that agriculture is the source of food and clothing for human beings and the primary condition for all production, and the crop root system, as an important nutrient organ, plays a key role in production. So research on the regulatory mechanism of rice root development has enabled me to gain a strong interest in plant science.”
Jake Owen Chandler 
Jake Owen Chandler (he/him) is the First Author of The dimorphic diaspore model Aethionema arabicum (Brassicaceae): Distinct molecular and morphological control of responses to parental and germination temperatures published 21 March 2024. He is a Research Associate at Lancaster University. Education background includes 2016 Ph.D Biological Sciences at University of Warwick and a 2010 BSc Biological Sciences at Lancaster University. His research interests are Seed germination and dormancy, Abiotic stress. Personal interests are Traveling, Walking, Gardening, Space.
“I became inspired to pursue plant science through hands-on research experience as an undergraduate.”
Yamila Agrofoglio
Yamila Agrofoglio (she/her) is the First Author of Arginine methylation of SM-LIKE PROTEIN 4 antagonistically affects alternative splicing during Arabidopsis stress responses published 22 March 2024. She is the Head of molecular biology lab at Calice Biotech. Agrofoglio holds an Ms. in Biological Sciences. University of Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2017 and a Ms. in Biological Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2012. Research interests include Plant metabolism, Plant stress, biotechnology. Personal interests include traveling and cooking.
“I became intrigued by plants in college, captivated by their incredible adaptability to diverse environmental conditions.”
Maria José Iglesias
Maria José Iglesias (she/her) is the First Author of Arginine methylation of SM-LIKE PROTEIN 4 antagonistically affects alternative splicing during Arabidopsis stress responses published 22 March 2024. She is a Project Leader at the Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Education background includes a 2014 Ph.D in Biological Sciences at Mar del Plata National University, Argentina and a 2008 MS in Biology at Mar del Plata National University, Argentina. Research interests include stress responses, redox biology, and posttranslational modifications. Personal interests include travel, enjoy food and wine, play football, yoga and pilates, and diving.
“During high school I was highly motivated to study Biological Sciences by a teacher that was coincidentally also a researcher in plants. But I was at University when I got in love with molecular biology and plants at the same time. Mar del Plata University in Argentina is strong in plant molecular biology and therefore I had several professors that did transfer their passion in this field. They encouraged me in the understanding of plants’ mechanisms to adapt to constant environmental changes, which are intricate, sophisticated and fascinating.”
Changjiang Li
Changjiang Li is the First Author of The adaptor protein ECAP, the co-repressor LEUNIG, and the transcription factor BEH3 interact and regulate microsporocyte generation in Arabidopsis published 25 March 2024. Li is a Lecturer at China Agricultural University. Education background includes a 2018 Ph.D Cell Biology at China Agricultural University. Research interests include Plant & Crop molecular biology, Abiotic stress, Jasmonate signaling. Personal interests include Running, Web3. Li studies plants because “Plants make me feel calm and comfortable”.
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.
Lei Shi
Lei Shi (she) is the First Author of The adaptor protein ECAP, the co-repressor LEUNIG, and the transcription factor BEH3 interact and regulate microsporocyte generation in Arabidopsis published 25 March 2024. She is a Postdoctor at China Agricultural University. Education background includes a 2022 Ph.D China Agricultural University and a 2016 BSc Hebei Normal University. Research interests include cell fate, male fertility, reproductive biology, transcriptional regulation. Personal interests include traveling and city walking.
“The male gametophyte of plants is crucial for plant reproduction, so we want to further understand its developmental process.”
Wei Chu
Wei Chu is the First Author of Methyltransferase TaSAMT1 mediates wheat freezing tolerance by integrating brassinosteroid and salicylic acid signaling published 27 March 2024. Chu is a Doctoral student at China Agricultural University and earned a 2018 MSc at Shandong Normal University. Research interests include Abiotic stress, and personal interests include outdoor sports and writing.
“Plants are magical living organisms. The research of plants can make us better understand nature. And plants can provide food, medicines and energy, which is very important to human beings. For me, I hope to explore more plant molecular mechanisms to have more fun.”
Shumin Chang
Shumin Chang is the First Author of Methyltransferase TaSAMT1 mediates wheat freezing tolerance by integrating brassinosteroid and salicylic acid signaling published 27 March 2024. Chang is a PhD candidate at China Agricultural University. Education background includes a 2024 Ph.D at China Agricultural University and a 2019 Master’s degree, China Agricultural University. Research interests include Abiotic stress. Personal interests include running and reading.
“Plant science is the study of the form, structure, growth, development, heredity, ecology and classification of plants. Plant science is of great significance to human life and economic development, such as providing food, medicine, wood and other resources, improving the environment, protecting ecology and so on. I am interested in plant science mainly because plants are amazing creatures and I am attracted by their beauty, mystery and vitality. Learning plant science can bring me a lot of fun and harvest, and can make me better understand and appreciate this colorful world.”
