People

Hongwei Hou, Professor, Email: houhw@ihb.ac.cn;  

Jingjing Yang, Associate Professor, Email: yangjj@ihb.ac.cn;

Gaojie Li, Assistant Professor, Email: ligaojie@ihb.ac.cn;

Xiaozhe Li, Assistant Experimentalist, Email: lixiaozhe@ihb.ac.cn;

Xuyao Zhao, Postdoctoral Fellow, Email: zhaoxuyao@ihb.ac.cn

Our research group focuses on the research and application of aquatic plants.

1. Our work encompasses the ecology, evolution, and developmental biology of aquatic plants with a particular interest in how natural ecological factors influence their development. We investigate the interaction between plants and their environment, exploring how adaptive evolution and biodiversity are shaped by these interactions. Aquatic plants exhibit significant phenotypic plasticity, allowing them to adapt to varying environmental conditions such as temperature, light, and water levels. This plasticity has profound implications for their ecological adaptation and evolutionary patterns. Our research team found that the aquatic plant Hygrophila difformis (Acanthaceae) has a moderate individual and obvious heterophylly, which make it an ideal material for studying plant-environment interaction (Fig. 1). We examine its morphological, physiological, and molecular characteristics to understand its response strategies to key environmental factors (temperature, light, CO₂, and nutrients etc.), establishing a model to re-understand the mechanism of natural biogenetics and evolution. Additionally, we studied other aquatic plants such as duckweeds, Vallisneria, and Utricularia, to explore the biodiversity and ecological strategies of aquatic plants in freshwater ecosystems (Fig. 2).

2. Research and application of duckweed: Duckweed is a small, fast-growing aquatic plant that is simplified to higher plants. It is an ideal material for studying plant physiology, biochemistry, and ecotoxicology. Due to its high protein content and comprehensive nutrition, duckweed has great potential in developing alternative protein foods, feed, and biomass energy (Fig. 3). Our research group is dedicated to collecting and preserving duckweed germplasm resources with the support of the National Aquatic Biological Resource Center. We conduct research and comparisons on the biological characteristics, nutrition, and genomes of different types of duckweed. Additionally, we identify functional genes and analyze nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism, as well as photosynthesis mechanisms. We have developed genetic transformation and efficient cultivation methods, leading to the creation of high photosynthetic, high-yield, and high-protein duckweed germplasm. Additionally, we have optimized production processes. Our studies offer theoretical and technical support for the establishment of vertical duckweed production factories and the development of alternative proteins from duckweed.

3. The application of aquatic plants in ecology, environment, and production: Our research group conducted a survey of aquatic plants in important freshwater lakes, such as Liangzi Lake in the Yangtze River basin. We studied the distribution, diversity, evolution, and ecological functions of aquatic plants in freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, we screened important aquatic economic plant varieties for environmental remediation and protection. We also established a recycling model for purifying biogas slurry using aquatic economic plants like Oenanthe javanica, in conjunction with fish technology (Fig. 4). Furthermore, we explored their utilization in efficient freshwater fishery.

Selected publications

1.       Li GJ; Zhao XY; Yang JJ; Hu SQ; Ponnu J; Kimura S; Hwang I; Torii KU; Hou HW. Water wisteria genome reveals environmental adaptation and heterophylly regulation in amphibious plants. Plant Cell Environ. 2024

2.       Xia ML; Li XZ; Yang JJ; Li GJ; Zhao XY; Hou HW*. Cress-loach coculture for improving the utilization efficiency of biogas slurry in aquaponic systems. Environ Technol & Inno，2023

3.       Li YX; Xia ML; Zhao XY; Hou HW*. Water temperature and chlorophyll a density drive the genetic and epigenetic variation of Vallisneria natans across a subtropical freshwater lake. Ecol Evol. 2023.

4.       Li YX; Zhao XY; Xia ML; Wei XZ; Hou HW*. Temperature is a cryptic factor shaping the geographical pattern of genetic variation in Ceratophyllum demersum across a subtropical freshwater lake, Plant Diversity.2023.

5.       Sun ZL; Zhao XY; Li GJ; Yang JJ; Chen Y; Xia ML; Hwang I; Hou HW*, Metabolic flexibility during a trophic transition reveals the phenotypic plasticity of greater duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza 7498), New Phytol. 2023,

6.       Li FI; Yang JJ; Sun ZY； Wang L； Qi LY；A S； Liu YQ； Zhang HM； Dang LF； Wang SJ； Luo CX； Nian WF； O'Conner S； Ju LZ； Quan WP； Li XK； Wang C； Wang DP； You HL； Cheng ZK； Yan J； Tang FC； Yang DC； Xia CW； Gao G； Wang Y； Zhang BC； Zhou YH； Guo X； Xiang SH； Liu H； Peng TB； Su XD； Chen Y； Ouyang Q； Wang DH； Zhang DM； Xu ZH； Hou HW； Bai SN； Li L. Plant-on-chip: Core morphogenesis processes in the tiny plant Wolffia australiana. PNAS Nexus. 2023

7.       Ikematsu S； Umase T; Shiozaki M; Nakayama S; Noguchi F; Sakamoto T; Hou HW; Gohari G; Kimura S; Torii KU. Rewiring of hormones and light response pathways underlies the inhibition of stomatal development in an amphibious plant Rorippa aquatica underwater. Curr Biol. 2023

8.       Li GJ; Yang, JJ; Chen YM; Zhao, XY; Chen Y; Kimura S; Hu SQ; Hou, HW*, SHOOT MERISTEMLESS participates in the heterophylly of Hygrophila difformis (Acanthaceae). Plant Physiol, 2022

9.       Sun ZL; Zhao XY; Xia ML; Yang JJ; Chen Y; Li XZ; Hou, HW*, Use of hemicellulose-derived xylose for environmentally sustainable starch production by mixotrophic duckweed. Sustain Energ Fuels, 2022

10.   Zhao XY; Yang JJ; Li XZ; Li GJ; Sun ZL; Chen Y; Chen YM; Xia ML; Li YX; Yao LG; Hou HW*, Identification and expression analysis of GARP superfamily genes in response to nitrogen and phosphorus stress in Spirodela polyrhiza. BMC Plant Biol, 2022

11.   Sun ZL; Guo WJ; Zhao XY; Chen Y; Yang JJ; Xu SQ; Hou HW*, Sulfur limitation boosts more starch accumulation than nitrogen or phosphorus limitation in duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza). Ind Crop Prod, 2022

12.   Yang JJ; Li GJ; Xia ML; Chen YM; Chen Y; Kumar S; Sun ZL; Li XZ; Zhao XY*; Hou HW*,  Combined effects of temperature and nutrients on the toxicity of cadmium in duckweed (Lemna aequinoctialis). J Hazard Mater, 2022

13.   Yang JJ; Zhao XY; Chen Y; Li GJ; Li XZ; Xia ML; Sun ZL; Chen YM; Li YX; Yao LG; Hou HW*, Identification, structural, and expression analyses of SPX genes in giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) reveals its role in response to low phosphorus and nitrogen Stresses. Cells, 2022

14.   Chen Y; Li GJ; Yang JJ; Zhao XY; Sun ZL; Hou HW*, Role of nramp transporter genes of Spirodela polyrhiza in cadmium accumulation. Ecotox Environ Safe, 2021

15.   Yang JJ; Zhao XY; Li GJ; Hu SQ; Hou HW*, Frond architecture of the rootless duckweed Wolffia globosa. BMC Plant Biol, 2021

16.   Kumar S; Li GJ; Yang JJ; Huang XF; Ji Q; Liu ZW; Ke WD*; Hou HW*, Effect of salt stress on growth, physiological parameters, and ionic concentration of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) cultivars. Front Plant Sci. 2021

17.   Zhao XY; Li GJ; Sun ZL; Chen Y; Guo WJ; Li YX; Chen YM; Yang JJ*; Hou HW*, Identification, structure analysis, and transcript profiling of phosphate transporters under Pi deficiency in duckweeds. Int J Biol Macromol. 2021

18.   Zhao XY; Yang JJ; Li GJ; Sun ZL; Hu SQ; Chen Y; Guo WJ; Hou HW*, Genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of the WRKY gene family in aquatic plants and their response to abiotic stresses in giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza). Genomics. 2021

19.   Kumar S; Li, GJ; Yang JJ; Huang XF; Ji Q; Zhou K; Khan  S; Ke WD*; Hou HW*, Investigation of an antioxidative system for salinity tolerance in Oenanthe javanica. Antioxidants. 2020

20.   Sun ZL; Guo WJ; Yang JJ; Zhao XY; Chen Y; Yao LG; Hou HW*. Enhanced biomass production and pollutant removal by duckweed in mixotrophic conditions. Bioresour Technol. 2020

21.   Heenatigala PPM; Sun ZL; Yang JJ; Zhao XY; Hou HW*, Expression of LamB vaccine antigen in Wolffia globosa (Duckweed) against fish vibriosis. Front Immunol. 2020

22.   Li GJ ^#;  Hu SQ ^#;  Yang JJ;  Zhao XY;  Schultz E;  Kimura S; Hou HW*, Establishment of an Agrobacterium mediated transformation protocol for the detection of cytokinin in the heterophyllous plant Hygrophila difformis (Acanthaceae), Plant Cell Rep. 2020

23.   Wu ZG; Xu X; Zhang J; Wiegleb G; Hou HW*, Influence of environmental factors on the genetic variation of the aquatic macrophyte Ranunculus subrigidus on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. BMC Evol Biol. 2019

24.   Yang JJ; Li GJ; Hu SQ; Bishopp A; Heenatigala PPM; Kumar S; Duan PF; Yao LG; Hou HW*, A protocol for efficient callus induction and stable transformation of Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Aquat Bot. 2018

25.   Mariyamma NP; Hou HW; Carland FM; Nelson T; Schultz EA*, Localization of Arabidopsis FORKED1 to a RABA positive compartment suggests a role in secretion. J Exp Bot. 2017

26.   Mariyamma N; Clarke K; Yu H; Hou HW; Wilton E; Dyk J; Schultz E*, Members of the Arabidopsis FORKED1-LIKE gene family act to localize PIN1 in developing veins. J Exp Bot. 2018

27.   Li GJ; Hu SQ; Yang JJ; Schultz E; Clarke K; Hou HW*, Water-Wisteria as an ideal plant for heterophylly study in higher aquatic plants. Plant Cell Rep. 2017

28.   Wu Z; Wu J; Wang Y; Hou HW*, Development of EST-derived microsatellite markers in the aquatic macrophyte Ranunculus bungei (Ranunculaceae). Applications in Plant Sciences. 2017

29.   Mariyamma N; Hou HW; Carland F; Nelson T; Schultz E*, Localization of Arabidopsis FORKED1 to a RABA positive compartment suggests a role in secretion. J Exp Bot. 2017

30.   Khan S; Nabi G; Ullah MW; Yousaf M; Manan S; Siddique R; Hou HW*, Overview on the role of advance genomics in conservation biology of endangered species. Int J Genomics. 2016

31.   Held M^#; Hou HW^#; Miri M^#; Huynh C; Ross L; Hossain S; Sato S; Tabata S; Perry J; Wang T; Szczyglowski K*, Lotus japonicus cytokinin receptors work partially redundantly to mediate nodule formation. Plant Cell. 2014

32.   Yoon H^#; Hossain M^#; Held M; Hou HW; Kehl M; Tromas A; Sato S; Tabata T; Andersen S; Stougaard J; Ross L; Szczyglowski K*, Lotus japonicus SUNERGOS1 encodes apredicted subunit A of a DNA topoisomerase VI and is required for nodule differentiationand accommodation of rhizobial infection. Plant J. 2014

33.   Garrett J^#; Meents M; Blackshaw M; Blackshaw L; Hou HW; Styranko D; Kohalmi S; Schultz E*, A novel, semi-dominant allele of MONOPTEROS provides insight into leaf initiation and vein pattern formation. Planta. 2012

34.   Hou HW; Erickson J; Meservy J; Schultz E*, FORKED1 encodes a PH domain proteinthat is required for PIN1 canalization in developing leaf veins. Plant J. 2010

35.   Hou HW; Zhou Y; He X; Mwange K; Li W; Cui K*, The ABP1 expression regulated by IAA and ABA is associated with the cambial activity periodicity in Eucommia ulmoides. J Exp Bot. 2006

36.   Mwange, K^#; Hou, HW^#;Wang, Y; He, X; Cui, K*, Opposite patterns in the annual distribution and time course of endogenous abscisic acid and indole-3-acetic acid in relation to the periodicity of cambial activity in Eucommia ulmoides. J Exp Bot. 2005

37.   Mwange, K; Hou, HW; Cui, K*, Relationship between endogenous indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid changes and bark recovery in Eucommia ulmoides after girdling. J Exp Bot. 2003

38.   杨晶晶, 赵旭耀, 李高洁, 胡诗琦, 陈艳, 孙作亮，侯宏伟*. 浮萍的研究及应用进展, 科学通报. 2021

39.   李高洁, 胡诗琦, 杨晶晶, 侯宏伟*. 植物异形叶研究进展. 植物生理学报, 2020

40.   吴志刚, 熊文, 侯宏伟*. 长江流域水生植物多样性格局与保护. 水生生物学报, 2018