Hongwei Zhang

Hongwei Zhang

Center of Crop Genes and Molecular Design

Institute of Crop Sciences

No.12 Zhongguancun South Street

Beijing, 100081, China

Tel:86-10-82105863

Fax:86-10-82105863

Email: zhanghongwei@caas.cn

Educations

l  Sep 2005 – Jul 2011

College of Biology, China Agricultural University

Ph. D. Major of “Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”

l  Sep 2001 – Jul 2005

l  College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University

Bachelor. Major of “Plant Genetics and Agronomy”

Working Experience

l  Jan 2024-now, Professor, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

l  Jan 2019 - Dec 2023, Associate Professor, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

l  Jul 2014 - Dec 2018, Assistant Professor, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

l  Feb 2012 - Jul 2014, Post-Doctor, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Research Interests

l  We focus on the development and application of advanced breeding technologies and tools to for short-statured maize breeding. Specifically, I have pioneered QTG cloning methodologies, including: QTG-seq, next-generation bulked segregation analysis, machine learning-based batch gene cloning.

l  Using these innovative techniques, we have successfully cloned twenty-eight genes regulating maize stature and architecture, we investigate the molecular mechanisms of two genes, and leveraging four genes for precision breedingof short-statured maize.

l  The work of our team bridges functional genomics and applied breeding, aiming to accelerate the development of high-performing maize varieties through cutting-edge biotechnological approaches.

Academic Qualifications

l  2020. Third Prize, Gansu Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award, Rank: 3rd

l  2021. Selected as Youth Reserve Talent, Institute of Crop Sciences, CAAS

l  2023. First Prize, Gansu Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award, Rank: 5th

l  2024. Second Prize, Henan Provincial Technology Invention Award, Rank: 7th

Selected Publications (*corresponding authors)

2025

Zhou T, Zhang J, Liang Y, Gu R, Ma Y, Zhu W, Li J, Du X, Wang X, Wang P, Liu Y, Zhen S, Fu J*, Li L*, Zhang H*. Nonadditive regulation confers phenotypic variation in hybrid maize. New Phytol. 2025 246: 631–644 doi: 10.1111/nph.20453.

Zhang J, Gu R, Miao X, Schmidt RH, Xu Z, Lu J, Ma Y, Yang T, Wang P, Liu Y, Wang X, Du X, Zheng N, Zhen S, Liang C, Xie Y, Wu Y, Li L, Reif JC, Jiang Y*, Wang J*, Fu J*, Zhang H*. GWAS-based population genetic analysis identifies bZIP29 as a heterotic gene in maize. Plant Commun. 2025 6(5): 101289. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101289.

Zhu W, Li W, Zhang H*, Li L*. Big data and artificial intelligence-aided crop breeding: Progress and prospects. J Integr Plant Biol. 2025 67(3):722-739. doi: 10.1111/jipb.13791.

2023

Han L#, Zhong W#, Qian J#, Jin M#, Tian P#, Zhu W#, Zhang H#, Sun Y#, Feng J, Liu X, Chen G, Farid B, Li R, Xiong Z, Tian Z, Li J, Luo Z, Du D, Chen S, Jin Q, Li J, Li Z, Liang Y, Jin X, Peng Y, Zheng C, Ye X, Yin Y, Chen H, Li W, Chen L, Li Q, Yan J*, Yang F*, Li L*. A multi-omics integrative network map of maize. Nature Genetics. 2023; 55:144–153 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01262-1

Wang P#, Yang Y#, Li D, Xu J, Gu R, Zheng J, Fu J, Wang J*, Zhang H*. Cloning of a new allele of ZmAMP1 and evaluation of its breeding value in hybrid maize. The Crop Journal. 2023; 11(1): 157-165 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2022.06.001

Wang X, Han L, Li J, Shang X, Liu Q, Li L*, Zhang H*. Next-generation bulked segregant analysis for Breeding 4.0. Cell Reports. 2023;42(9):113039. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113039.

2022

Yang Y#, Ma YT#, Liu YY#, Lyle D, Li DD, Wang PX, Xu JL, Zhen SH, Lu JW, Peng YL, Cui Y, Fu JJ, Du WL*, Zhang HW*, Wang JH*. Dissecting the genetic basis of maize deep-sowing tolerance by combining association mapping and gene expression analysis. Journal of Integrative Agriculture. 2022; 21(5):1266-1277

Ma Y#, Li D#, Xu Z, Gu R, Wang P, Fu J, Wang J, Du W*, Zhang H*. Dissection of the genetic basis of yield traits in line per se and testcross populations and identification of candidate genes for hybrid performance in maize. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23(9):5074. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23095074

Zhou T#, Afzal R#, Haroon M, Ma Y, Zhang H*, Li L*. Dominant complementation of biological pathways in maize hybrid lines is associated with heterosis. Planta. 2022; 256:111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-022-04028-5

Before 2022

Wu L, Han L, Li Q, Wang G, Zhang H*, Li L*. Using interactome big data to crack genetic mysteries and enhance future crop breeding. Molecular Plant. 2021; 14(1):77-94

Zhang H#, Lu Y#, Ma Y, Fu J, Wang G. Genetic and molecular control of grain yield in maize. Molecular Breeding. 2021; 41:18

Zhang H, Wang X, Pan Q, Li P, Liu Y, Lu X, Zhong W, Li M, Han L, Li J, Wang P, Li D, Liu Y, Li Q, Yang F, Zhang YM, Wang G, Li L. QTG-Seq accelerates QTL fine mapping through QTL partitioning and whole-genome sequencing of bulked segregant samples. Molecular Plant. 2019; 12(3):426-437