Genetic and Molecular Mechanism of Organogenetic Variation in Vegetables

The team is led by Prof. Kuang Hanhui (Changjiang Scholar) and includes Robert M. Larkin (Foreign Professor, recipient of the “Chime Bells” award). The team’s primary research focus is on lettuce (Lactuca sativa and asparagus lettuce), with an emphasis on improving yield and quality in production. Key areas of investigation include:

• Genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the expansion of lettuce tubers
• Cloning genes that regulate heading in Lactuca sativa
• Dissecting regulatory networks that influence lettuce color

These studies aim to provide a theoretical foundation for the efficient breeding of related vegetables. The team has gathered extensive germplasm resources and developed a MAGIC population of lettuce. Additionally, they have performed genome and transcriptome resequencing of lettuce germplasm to analyze genetic diversity, population structure, and important agronomic traits through linkage and association analyses.

Since its establishment, the team has published multiple papers in high-impact journals, including PNAS, Plant Journal, and Plant Biotechnology Journal. They have also applied for two patents, with one approved.

In line with their mission of "teaching knowledge and cultivating morals," the team offers all-English courses such as Plant Genomics and Plant Biochemistry, which are highly popular among students.