Kuang Hanhui

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Kuang Hanhui

Degree: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Graduation School:  University of Georgia

Office: 726 South Building

My research interest is genetics of lettuce. We are studying the genetics of domestication traits of lettuce, such as seed shattering, branching, and spines. We are also interested in the genetics underlying the development of succulent swollen stems, leafy heads, and leaf shapes of lettuce. We use modern genetics, genomics and bioinformatics approaches to facilitate the cloning of genes controlling those important traits of lettuce. and investigate their underlying molecular mechanisms. The cloned genes are applied in breeding programs of lettuce.

1. 1995.1-1998.6, University of Georgia, Ph.D., Forest Genetics
2. 1988.9-1991.6, Beijing Forest University, Master, Tree Breeding
3. 1984.9-1988.6, Jiangxi Agriculture University, BS, Forestry

1. 2008 – present, Huazhong Agricultural University, Professor;
2. 2004 – 2007, University of California, Berkeley, Associate Specialist;
3. 2003.5 – 2004.4, University of California, Berkeley, Assistant Specialist;
4. 1999.6 – 2003.4, University of California, Davis, Post-doc;
5. 1998.6 – 1999.5, University of Haifa, Post-doc;
6. 1991 – 1994, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Assistant researcher.

  1. Hu Q, Zhang H, Song Y, Kuang H, Larkin RM (2024) SlREC proteins have a central role in allocating cellular space to plastids and carotenoid accumulation in tomato. Plant Physiol.
  2. Sun P, Yuan H, Pan J, Wu Z, Li W, Wang X, Kuang H, Chen J (2024) A WOX homolog disrupted by a transposon led to the loss of spines and contributed to the domestication of lettuce. New Phytologist
  3. Xie S, Luo G, An G, Wang B, Kuang H, Wang X (2024) Lskipk Lsatpase double mutants are necessary and sufficient for the compact plant architecture of butterhead lettuce. Horticulture Research.
  4. Han Y, Li F, Wu Y, Wang D, Luo G, Wang X, Wang X, Kuang H, Larkin RM. (2024) PSEUDO-ETIOLATION IN LIGHT proteins reduce greening by binding GLK transcription factors. Plant Physiol. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad641.
  5. Zhang X, Liang X, He S, Tian H, Liu W, Jia Y, Zhang L, Zhang W, Kuang H, Chen J. (2023) Seed color in lettuce is determined by the LsTT2, LsCHS, and Ls2OGD genes from the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Theor Appl Genet. 136(12):241. doi: 10.1007/s00122-023-04491-y.
  6. Li Y, Luo J, Chen R, Zhou Y, Yu H, Chu Z, Lu Y, Gu X, Wu S, Wang P, Kuang H, Ouyang B. (2023) Folate shapes plant root architecture by affecting auxin distribution. Plant J. 113(5):969-985. doi: 10.1111/tpj.16093.
  7. Yuan P, Xu C, He N, Lu X, Zhang X, Shang J, Zhu H, Gong C, Kuang H, Tang T, Xu Y, Ma S, Sun D, Zhang W, Umer MJ, Shi J, Fernie AR, Liu W, Luo J. (2023) Watermelon domestication was shaped by stepwise selection and regulation of the metabolome. Sci China Life Sci. 66(3):579-594. doi: 10.1007/s11427-022-2198-5. Epub 2022 Nov 4.PMID: 36346547
  8. Jia Y, Yu P, Shao W, An G, Chen J, Yu C, Kuang H (2022) The upregulated LsKN1 gene promotes cytokinin and suppresses gibberellin biosynthesis to generate wavy leaves in lettuce. J Exp Bot, 73(19):6615-6629, doi: 10.1093/jxb/erac311
  9. An G, Yu C , Yan C, Wang M, Zhang W, Jia Y, Shi C, Larkin RM, Chen J, Lavelle D, Michelmore RW, Kuang H (2022) Loss-of-function of SAWTOOTH 1 affects leaf dorsiventrality genes to promote leafy heads in lettuce. Plant Cell, 27;34(11):4329-4347, doi: 10.1093/plcell/koac234
  10. An, G, Qi Y, Zhang W, Gao H, Qian J, Larkin RM, Chen J, Kuang H (2022) LsNRL4 enhances photosynthesis and decreases leaf angles in lettuce. Plant Biotechnol J, 20(10):1956-1967, doi: 10.1111/pbi.13878
  11. Wang M, Lavelle D, Yu C, Zhang W, Chen J, Wang X, Michelmore RW, Kuang H (2022) The upregulated LsKN1 gene transforms pinnately to palmately lobed leaves through auxin, gibberellin, and leaf dorsiventrality pathways in lettuce. Plant Biotechnol J, 20(9):1756-1769, doi: 10.1111/pbi.13861.
  12. Zhang L, Qian J, Han Y, Jia Y, Kuang H, Chen J (2022) Alternative splicing triggered by the insertion of a CACTA transposon attenuates LsGLK and leads to the development of pale-green leaves in lettuce. Plant J, 109(1):182-195. doi: 10.1111/tpj.15563
  13. Tang Q, Kuang H, Yu C, An G, Tao R, Zhang W, Jia Y. (2022) Non-vernalization requirement in Chinese kale caused by loss of BoFLC and low expressions of its paralogs. Theor Appl Genet, 135(2):473-483. doi: 10.1007/s00122-021-03977-x
  14. Hu Q, Zhang H, Zhang L, Liu Y, Huang C, Yuan C, Chen Z, Li K, Larkin R, Chen J, Kuang H. (2021) Two TOBAMOVIRUS MULTIPLICATION 2A homologs in tobacco control asymptomatic response to tobacco mosaic virus. Plant Physiol, 187(4):2674-2690. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiab448
  15. An G, Simko I, Chen J, Yu C, Lavelle D, Zhang W, Michelmore RW, Kuang H. (2021) Hypersensitivity to triforine in lettuce is triggered by a TNL gene through the disease-resistance pathway. Plant Biotechnol J, 19(11):2144-2146
  16. Wei T, van Treuren R, Liu X, Zhang Z, Chen J, Liu Y, Dong S, Sun P, Yang T, Lan T, Wang X, Xiong Z, Liu Y, Wei J, Lu H, Han S, Chen JC, Ni X, Wang J, Yang H, Xu X, Kuang H, van Hintum T, Liu X, Liu H. (2021) Whole-genome resequencing of 445 Lactuca accessions reveals the domestication history of cultivated lettuce. Nat Genet, 53(5):752-760.
  17. Yuan P, He N, Umer MJ, Zhao S, Diao W, Zhu H, Dou J, Kaseb MO, Kuang H, Lu X, Liu W. (2021) Comparative metabolomic profiling of Citrullus spp. fruits provides evidence for metabolomic givergence during domestication. Metabolites, 11(2):78.
  18. Chen S, Wang Y, Yu L, Zheng T, Wang S, Yue Z, Jiang J, Kumari S, Zheng C, Tang H, Li J, Li Y, Chen J, Zhang W, Kuang H, Robertson JS, Zhao PX, Li H, Shu S, Yordanov YS, Huang H, Goodstein DM, Gai Y, Qi Q, Min J, Xu C, Wang S, Qu GZ, Paterson AH, Sankoff D, Wei H, Liu G, Yang C. (2021) Genome sequence and evolution of Betula platyphylla. Hortic Res, 8(1):37.
  19. Yu C., Yan C, Liu Y., Liu Y., Jia Y., Lavelle D., An G., Zhang W., Zhang L., Han R., Larkin R.M., Chen J., Michelmore R.W., Kuang H. (2020) Upregulation of a KN1 homolog by transposon insertion promotes leafy head development in lettuce. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 117(52):33668-33678
  20. Zhang W, Alseekh S, Zhu X, Zhang Q, Fernie AR, Kuang H, Wen W. (2020) Dissection of the domestication-shaped genetic architecture of lettuce primary metabolism. Plant J, 104(3):613-630.
  21. Su W, Tao R, Liu W, Yu C, Yue Z, He S, Lavelle D, Zhang W, Zhang L, An G, Zhang Y, Hu Q, Larkin RM, Michelmore RW, Kuang H, Chen J. (2020) Characterization of four polymorphic genes controlling red leaf colour in lettuce that have undergone disruptive selection since domestication. Plant Biotechnol J, 18(2):479-490.
  22. Yan C, An G, Zhu T, Zhang W, Zhang L, Peng L, Chen J, Kuang H. (2019) Independent activation of the BoMYB2 gene leading to purple traits in Brassica oleracea. Theor Appl Genet, 132(4):895-906.
  23. Dou J, Zhao S, Lu X, He N, Zhang L, Ali A, Kuang H, Liu W. (2018) Genetic mapping reveals a candidate gene (ClFS1) for fruit shape in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.).Theor Appl Genet, 131(4):947-958.
  24. Chen S., Ren, F., Zhang, L., LiY., Zhang L., Zhu, B., Zeng P., Li Z., Kuang H. (2018) Unstable allotetraploid tobacco genome due to frequent homeologous recombination, segmental deletion and chromosome loss. Mol Plant, 11:914-927
  25. Zhang L, Su W, Tao R, Zhang W, Chen J, Wu P, Jia Y, Larkin RM, Lavelle D, Truco MJ, Wo SRC, Michelmore RW, Kuang H. (2017) RNA sequencing provides insights into the evolution of lettuce and the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis. Nat Commun, 8(1):2264.
  26. Zhou Y, Ma Y, Zeng J, Duan L, Xue X, Wang H, Lin T, Liu Z, Zeng K, Zhong Y, Zhang S, Hu Q, Liu M, Zhang H, Reed J, Moses T, Liu X, Huang P, Qing Z, Liu X, Tu P, Kuang H, Zhang Z, Osbourn A, Ro DK, Shang Y, Huang S. (2016) Convergence and divergence of bitterness biosynthesis and regulation in Cucurbitaceae. Nat Plants, 28;2:16183
  27. Zhang Y, Xia R, Kuang H, Meyers BC. (2016) The diversification of plant NBS-LRR defense genes directs the evolution of microRNAs that target them. Mol Biol Evol, 33(10):2692-705.
  28. Yuan, X., Yan, C., Wu, Z., Ren, F., Zhang, H., Baker, B., Chen, J., Kuang, H. (2015) Frequent gain and loss of resistance against tobacco mosaic virus in Nicotiana species. Mol Plant, 8:1813-15.
  29. Wei, C., Kuang, H., Li, F., Chen, J. (2014) The I2 resistance gene homologues in Solanum have complex evolutionary patterns and are targeted by miRNAs. BMC Genomics, 15(1):743
  30. Zhang, Y., Yan, C., Kuang, H. (2014) GC-content fluctuation around small RNA-generating sites. FEBS Letters, 588:764-769
  31. Chen J, Hu Q, Zhang Y, Lu C, Kuang H. (2014) P-MITE: a database for plant miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements. Nucleic Acids Res, 42(1):D1176-81
  32. Lin X, Zhang Y, Kuang H, Chen J. (2013) Frequent loss of lineages and deficient duplications accounted for low copy number of disease resistance genes in Cucurbitaceae. BMC Genomics, 14:335
  33. Jia J.,…Kuang H, (27th author).,…Wang J. (2013) Aegilops tauschii draft genome sequence reveals a gene repertoire for wheat adaptation. Nature, 496:91-5
  34. Guo S,…Kuang H, (31st author),…Xu Y. et al., (2012) The draft genome of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and resequencing of 20 diverse accessions. Nat Genet, 45(1):51-8.
  35. Xu Q,…Kuang H, (34th author),…Ruan Y. (2012) The draft genome of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). Nat Genet, 16;45(1):59-66.
  36. Yin LF, Hu MJ, Wang F, Kuang H, Zhang Y, Schnabel G, Li GQ, Luo CX. (2012) Frequent gain and loss of introns in fungal cytochrome B genes. PLoS One, 7 (11)
  37. Chen J, Lu C, Zhang Y, Kuang H. (2012) Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) in rice were originated and amplified predominantly after the divergence of Oryza and Brachypodium and contributed considerable diversity to the species. Mob Genet Elements, 2(3):127-132.
  38. Luo S, Zhang Y, Hu Q, Chen J, Li Q, Lu C, Liu H, Wang W, Kuang H. (2012) Dynamic nucleotide-binding-site and leucine-rich-repeat-encoding genes in the grass family. Plant Physiol, 159:197-210
  39. Lu, C., Chen, J., Zhang, Y., Hu, Q., Su, W., Kuang， (2012) Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) have been accumulated through amplification bursts and play important roles in gene expression and species diversity in Oryza sativa. Mol Bio Evol, 29:1005-1017
  40. Li G, Huang S, Guo X, Li Y, Yang Y, Guo Z, Kuang H, Rietman H, Bergervoet M., Vleeshouwers V, van der Vossen EA., Qu D, Visser R Jacobsen E, Vossen J. (2011) Cloning and characterization of R3b; Members of the R3 superfamily of late blight resistance genes show sequence and functional divergence. Mol Plant Microbe Interact, 24:1132-1142
  41. Xu, X.,…Kuang, H. (31st author),…Visser, RG.（2011）Genome sequence and analysis of the tuber crop potato. Nature, 475:189–195
  42. Luo, S., Peng, J., Li, K., Wang, M., Kuang, H.（2011）Contrasting evolutionary patterns of the Rp1 resistance gene family in different species of Poaceae. Mol Bio Evol,　 28: 313-325　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
  43. Kuang H, Padmanabhan C, Li F, Kamei A, Bhaskar PB, Ouyang S, Jiang J, Buell C R, and Baker B.(2009) Identification of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) and biogenesis of their siRNAs in the Solanaceae: New functional implications for MITEs. Genome Res, 19: 42-56.
  44. Kuang H, J. van Eck H, Sicard，D, Michelmore R and Nevo E. (2008) Evolution and genetic population structure of prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola) and its RGC2 resistance gene cluster. Genetics, 178: 1547-1558.
  45. Kuang H, Caldwell K, Meyers B and Michelmore R. (2008) Frequent sequence exchanges between Homologs of RPP8 in Arabidopsis are not necessarily associated with genomic proximity. Plant J, 54: 69-80.
  46. Zhang L, Mojtahedi H, Kuang H, Baker B and Brown CR. (2007) The use of STS markers in the marker-assisted selection of Columbia root-knot nematode resistance introgressed from Solanum bulbocastanum. Crop Sci, 47: 2021-2026
  47. Kuang H, Ochoa O, Nevo E, and Michelmore R. (2006) The disease resistance gene Dm3 is infrequent in natural populations of Lactuca serriola due to deletions and frequent gene conversions at the RGC2 locus. Plant J, 47: 38-48
  48. Kuang H, Wei F, Marano M, Wirtz U, Wang X, Liu J, Shum W, Zaborsky J, Tallon LJ, Rensink W, Lobst S, Zhang P, Tornqvist C, Tek A, Bamberg J, Helgeson J, Fry W, You F, Luo M, Jiang J, Buell RC and Baker B. (2005) The R1 resistance cluster contains three groups of independently evolving, Type I R1 homologues and shows substantial structural variation among haplotypes of Solanum demissum. Plant J, 44: 37-51
  49. Huang S, van der Vossen EAG, Kuang H, Vleeshouwers VGAA, Zhang N, Borm TJA, van Eck HJ, Baker B, Jacobsen E and Visser RGF. (2005) Comparative genomics enabled the isolation of the R3a late blight resistance gene in potato. Plant J, 42: 251-261
  50. Kuang H, Woo S, Meyers B, Nevo E and Michelmore R. (2004) Multiple genetic processes result in heterogeneous rates of evolution within the major cluster disease resistance genes in lettuce. Plant Cell, 16: 2870-2894.
  51. Meyers B, Kozik A, Griego A, Kuang H, Michelmore RW (2003). Genome-wide analysis of NBS-LRR-encoding genes in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 15: 809-834.
  52. Song J, Bradeen JM, Naess SK, Raasch JA, Haberlach GT, Wielgus SM, Liu J, Kuang H, Austin-Phillips S, Buell CB, Helgeson JP, and Jiang J. (2003) Gene RB from Solanum bulbocastanum confers broad spectrum resistance against potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 100: 9128-9133.
  53. Kuang H, Richardson T, Carson P and Bongarten B. (1999) Genetic analysis of inbreeding depression in Pinus radiata D. Don. II. Genetics of viability genes. Theor Appl Genet, 99: 140-146.
  54. Kuang H, Richardson T, Carson S, Wilcox P and Bongarten B. (1999) Genetic analysis of inbreeding depression in Pinus radiata D. Don. I. Genetic map with distorted markers. Theor Appl Genet, 98: 697-703.
  55. Kuang H, Rrchardson T, Carson S, and Bongarten B. (1998) An allele responsible for seeding death in Pinus radiata D. Don. Theor Appl Genet, 96: 640-644.