Chai Lijun

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. 

[1] 2005.09-2012.07 Huazhong Agricultural University PhD Pomology
[2] 2011.03-2012.03 University of Birmingham Visiting student
[3] 2001.09-2005.07 Huazhong Agricultural University BS Horticulture

[1] 2021.12-present Huazhong Agricultural University Professor
[2] 2015.12-2021.12 Huazhong Agricultural University Associate Professor
[3] 2012.07-2015.12 Huazhong Agricultural University Research Fellow

1.Muhammad Husnain Ahmad, Muhammad Junaid Rao, Hu Jianbing, Xu Qiang, Liu Chenchen, Cao Zonghong, Robert M. Larkin, Deng Xiuxin, Maurice Bosch, Chai Lijun* (2022) Systems and breakdown of self-incompatibility. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 41(3): 209-239
2.蒋靖东，韦壮敏，王楠，朱晨桥，叶俊丽，谢宗周*，邓秀新，柴利军*(2022)山金柑四倍体资源的发掘与鉴定。园艺学报　10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2021-0927
3.韦壮敏，魏斯佳，陈鹏，胡健兵，汤雨晴，叶俊丽，李先信，邓秀新，柴利军*(2022) 63份柚类资源S基因型鉴定。园艺学报49(5): 1111-1120
4.Liang Mei, Cao Zonghong, Zhu Andan, Liu Yuanlong, Tao Mengqin, Yang Huayan, Xu Jr Qiang, Wang Shaohua, Liu Junjie, Li Yongping, Chen Chuanwu, Xie Zongzhou, Deng Chongling, Ye Junli, Guo Wenwu, Xu Qiang, Xia Rui, Larkin RM, Deng Xiuxin, Bosch Maurice, Franklin-Tong Vernonica E, Chai Lijun* (2020) Evolution of self-compatibility by a mutant Sm-RNase in citrus. Nature Plants 6:131-142. (F1000推荐，高被引论文, Featured in Nature Plants by Sota Fujii & Seiji Takayama (2020) Expanding the RNase world. Nature Plants 6, 53–54.)
5. Chai Lijun, Tudor RL, Poulter NS, Wilkins KA, Eaves DJ, Franklin FCH, Franklin-Tong VE* (2017) MAP Kinase PrMPK9-1 contributes to the Self-Incompatibility Response. Plant Physiology 174 (2) 1226-1237.
6. Hu Jianbing, Xu Qiang, Liu Chenchen, Liu Binghao, Deng Chongling, Chen Chuanwu, Wei Zhuangmin, Muhammad Husnain Ahmad, Peng Kang, Wen Hao, Chen Xiangling, Chen Peng, Robert M. Larkin, Ye Junli, Deng Xiuxin, Chai Lijun*(2021) Downregulated expression of S2-RNase attenuates self-incompatibility in “Guiyou No. 1” pummelo. Horticulture Research 8:199
7. 韦壮敏，李蒙蒙，杨晓明，袁晓慧，叶俊丽，谢宗周，邓秀新，柴利军*(2020) 无核酸橙资源‘抛橘’的遗传鉴定。园艺学报47（2）：345-354.
8.陶丽雯，曾秀丽，红英，李媛蓉，邓秀新，柴利军*(2020)西藏酸橙资源发掘及遗传多样性分析。西藏农业科技 42(S1)1-7.
9. 李昂，戴冬，赵立，韦壮敏，丁德宽，袁晓慧，叶俊丽，谢宗周，邓秀新，柴利军*(2019)基于胚抢救技术的枳雀×枳杂交群体创建及鉴定。果树学报36（4）：430-437.
10. 李航，杨晓明，丁德宽，王小丽，谢宗周，叶俊丽，彭抒昂，邓秀新，柴利军* (2018)基于cpSSR和nSSR标记的地方柑橘资源“枳雀”亲本分析。果树学报35（10）：265-274.
11. Zhang Siqi, Liang Mei, Wang Nan, Xu Qiang, Deng Xiuxin, Chai Lijun* (2018) Reproduction in woody perennial Citrus: an update on nucellar embryony and self-incompatibility. Plant Reproduction 31:43-57.
12. Liang Mei, Yang Wei, Su Shiying, Fu Lili, Yi Hualin, Chuanwu Chen, Deng Xiuxin, Chai Lijun* (2017) Genome-wide identification and functional analysis of S-RNase involved in the self-incompatibilityof citrus. Molecular Genetics and Genomics292: 325-341.
13. Wang Xiaohua, Yin Wu, Wu Juxun, Chai Lijun*, Yi Hualin* (2016) Effects of exogenous abscisic acid on the expression of citrus fruit ripening-related genes and fruit ripening. Scientia Horticulturae 201:175-183.
14. Liang Mei, Yang Xiaoming, Li Hang, Su Shiying, Yi Hualin, Chai Lijun*, Deng Xiuxin (2015) De Novo Transcriptome Assembly of Pummelo and Molecular Marker Development. PLoS ONE 10(3):e0120615.
15. Li Hang, Yang Xiaoming, Zhu Lianshu, Yi Hualin, Chai Lijun*, Deng Xiuxin (2015) Parentage analysis of natural citrus hybrid ‘Zhelong Zhoupigan’ based on nuclear and chloroplast SSR markers. Scientia Horticulturae 186:24-30.13.
16. Chai Lijun, Ge Xiaoxia, Kumar Biswas Manosh, Xu Qiang, Deng Xiuxin* (2011) Self-sterility in the mutant ‘Zigui shatian’ pummelo (Citrus grandis Osbeck) is due to abnormal post-zygotic embryo development and not self-incompatibility. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture 104:1-11.

Book Chapters

1. Book: The Citrus Genome (Springer)， Chapter: Genetic resources of Citrus and related genera
2. Book: The Citrus Genome (Springer)， Chapter: Citrus Reproductive Biology from Flowering to Fruiting
3. Book：Citrus Production(Taylor & Francis Group)， Chapter: Citrus Flowering and Fruit Setting