Dr. Hongbo ZHAO
Associate Professor
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University
Email: zhao@scau.edu.cn
Biography
1. Work experience
2019 - present, appointed as Distinguished Professor of Hanjiang Scholars of Shaanxi University of Technology;
2018-present, appointed as Visiting Professor of Heidelberg University, Germany;
2018-2020 secondment to the Ministry of Education;
2017 studied in National Protein Science Center, Tsinghua University;
2016-present Associate Professor, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University.
2. Educational background
2015-2016 Postdoctoral Fellow, Bioenergy, University of Heidelberg, Germany;
2010-2014 PhD student, Plant Molecular Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences and Mathematics, University of Heidelberg, Germany, during which he went to the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
2009-2010 Institute of Botany, University of Heidelberg, Germany for exchange;
2007-2008 PhD student, Germplasm Resources of Horticultural Plants, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University;
2004-2007 Master student, Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University;
1999-2003 Undergraduate, Horticulture, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University.
Research Interests
He primarily focuses on utilizing molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, and structural biology techniques to investigate the structure and function of relevant proteins and natural products in vegetable plants, with subsequent applications in industrial raw materials, health products, and breeding.
Teaching
Undergraduate course：Molecular and Cell Biology of Horticultural Plants;
Postgraduate courses：Principles and Technologies of Genetic Engineering of Horticultural Plants, Horticultural Plant Biotechnology, Tissue Culture of Horticultural Plants
Selected Publications
1. Huang X, Luo W, Wu S, Long Y, Li R, Zheng F, Greiner S, Rausch T, Zhao H. Apoplastic maize fructan exohydrolase Zm-6-FEH displays substrate specificity for levan and is induced by exposure to levan-producing bacteria. Int J Biol Macromol, 2020, 163, 630-639.
2. Zhao H, Greiner S, Scheffzek K, Rausch T, Wang G. A 6&1-FEH encodes an enzyme for fructan degradation and interact with invertase inhibitor protein in maize (Zea mays L.). Int J Mol Sci. 2019, 20(15),3807; doi:10.3390/ijms20153807.
3. Chen L, Liu X, Huang X, Luo W, Long Y, Greiner S, Rausch T, Zhao H. Functional Characterization of a drought-responsive invertase inhibitor from maize (Zea mays L.). Int J Mol Sci. 2019, 20(17):4081; doi: 10.3390/ijms20174081.
4. Wang G, Kong J, Cui D, Zhao H, et al. Comparative proteomic analysis of two Ralstonia solanacearum isolates differing in aggressiveness. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, doi: 10.3390/ijms19082444.
5. Wang G, Kong J, Cui D, Zhao H, et al. Resistance against Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato depends on the methionine cycle and the γ-aminobutyric acid metabolic pathway. Plant J, 2018, doi: 10.1111/tpj.14175.
6. Wei H, Zhao H et al. Chicory CiMYB5 and CiMYB3 regulate fructan 1-exohydrolase expression in response to abiotic stress and hormonal cues. J Exp Bot, 2017, doi:10.1093/jxb/erx210.
7. Wei H, Bausewein A, Steininger H, Su T, Zhao H et al. Linking expression of fructan active enzymes, cell wall invertases and sucrose transporters with fructan profiles in growing taproot of Chicory (Cichorium intybus): Impact of hormonal and environmental cues. Front Plant Sci, 2016:5(7):1806. eCollection.
8. Su T, Wolf S, Han M, Zhao H et al. Reassessment of an Arabidopsis cell wall invertase inhibitor AtCIF1 reveals its role in seed germination and early seedling growth. Plant Mol Biol, 2016;90:137 55.
9. Zhao H, Xu L et al. Melatonin regulates carbohydrate metabolism and defenses against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 infection in Arabidopsis thaliana. J Pineal Res, 2015,59:109-119.
10. Zhao H, Su T et al. Unveiling the mechanism of melatonin impacts on maize seedlings growth: Sucrose metabolism as a case. J Pineal Res, 2015,59:255-266.
