Zhijun Cheng

Zhijun Cheng

Center of Crop Genes and Molecular Design

No.12 Zhongguancun South Street

Beijing, 100081, China

Tel:86-10-82108786

Fax:86-10-82105813

Email:chengzhijun@caas.cn

Educations

Ph.D., Agronomy, Graduate school of CAAS

M.A., Agronomy, Graduate school of CAAS

B.A., Agronomy, Anhui Agriculture University

Working Experience

2004-present  Senior Researcher of rice molecular biology, Institute of Crop Science of CAAS

1999-2004, Post-doctoral Fellow, Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University, Japan

1994-1999, associate researcher, Institute of Crop Science of CAAS

1984-1988       Lecture, Luan Agriculture school

Research Interests

Rice gene isolation based on mutants and QTLs from elite variety, especially on the traits related to panicle development, plant-type, nitrogen use efficiency and Salt tolerance etc.

Selected Publications (*corresponding authors)

1.      BJ Liu, S Luo, W Tian, X Liu, JH Zhang, YL Ren, ZB, JL Shao, YQ Chang, ZJ Cheng, JM Wan (2025) Perturbation of Anion/Cation Transport Leads to Apical Panicle Abortion in Rice by Disrupting Ca²⁺ Homeostasis. Plant Biotechnology Journal (accepted). (co-correspondent)

2.      S Li, ZC Zhao, TZ Liu, JH Zhang, XX Xing, M Feng, X Liu, S Luo, K Dong, J Wang, YP Wang, F Zhang, R Miao, WF Luo, CL Lei, YL Ren, SS Zhu, XP Guo, X Wang, QB Lin, ZJ Cheng, JM Wan (2025) The G-protein γ subunit DEP1 facilitates brassinosteroid signaling in rice via a MYB–bHLH–ARF module. The Plant Cell, 37, doi: 10.1093/plcell/koaf122. (co-correspondent)

3.      JH Zhang, QB Lin, X Wang, JL Shao, YL Ren, X Liu, M Feng, S Li, Q Sun, S Luo, BJ Liu, XX Xing, YQ Chang, ZJ Cheng, JM Wan (2025) The DENSE AND ERECT PANICLE1-GRAIN NUMBER ASSOCIATED module enhances rice yield by repressing CYTOKININ OXIDASE 2 expression. The Plant Cell, 37, doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae309. (co-correspondent)

4.      X Liu, F Zhang, ZQ Xun, JL Shao, WF Luo, XK Jiang, JC Wang, J Wang, S Li, QB Lin, YL Ren, HX Zhao, ZJ Cheng, JM Wan (2024) The OsNL1-OsTOPLESS2-OsMOC1/3 pathway regulates high-order tiller outgrowth in rice. Plant Biotechnology Journal, doi: 10.1111/pbi.14547. (co-correspondent)

5.      K Dong, FQ Wu, SQ Cheng, S Li, F Zhang, XX Xing, X Jin, S Luo, M Feng, R Miao, YQ Chang, S Zhang, XM You, PR Wang, Xin Zhang, CL Lei, YL Ren, SS Zhu, XP Guo, CY Wu, DL Yang, QB Lin, ZJ Cheng, JM Wan (2024) OsPRMT6a-mediated arginine methylation of OsJAZ1 regulates jasmonate signaling and spikelet development in rice. Molecular Plant, doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2024.04.014. (co-correspondent)

6.      B Lei, JL Shao, F Zhang, J Wang, YH Xiao, ZJ Cheng, WB Tang, JM Wan (2024) Genetic analysis and fine mapping of a grain size QTL in the small grain sterile rice line Zhuo201S. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 23(7): 2–10. (co-correspondent)

7.      TZ Liu, X Zhang, H Zhang, ZJ Cheng, J Liu, CL Zhou, S Luo, WF Luo, S Li, XX Xing, YQ Chang, CL Shi, YL Ren, SS Zhu, CL Lei, XP Guo, J Wang, ZC Zhao, HY Wang, HQ Zhai, QB Lin, JM Wan (2022) Dwarf and High Tillering1 represses rice tillering through mediating the splicing of D14 pre-mRNA. The Plant Cell, 34: 3301–3318, https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koac169. (co-first author)

8.      F Wang, ZJ Cheng, JC Wang, F Zhang, BC Zhang, S Luo, CL Lei, T Pan, YF Wang, Y Zhu, M Wang, WW Chen, QB Lin, SS Zhu, YH Zhou, ZC Zhao, J Wang, XP Guo, X Zhang, L Jiang, YQ Bao, YL Ren, JM Wan (2022) Rice STOMATAL CYTOKINESIS DEFECTIVE2 regulates cell expansion by affecting vesicular trafficking in rice. Plant Physiology 2022: 189: 567–584, https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac073. (co-first author)

9.      ZC Zhu, S Luo, B Lei, XY Li, ZJ Cheng (2022) Locus TUTOU2 determines the panicle apical abortion phenotype of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in tutou2 mutanJournal of Integrative Agriculture, 21(3): 621–630. (correspondent)

10.     WW Chen, ZJ Cheng, LL Liu, M Wang, XM You, J Wang, F Zhang, CL Zhou, Z Zhang, H Zhang, SM You, YP Wang, S Luo, JH Zhang, JL Wang, J Wang, ZC Zhao, XP Guo, CL Lei, X Zhang, QB Lin, YL Ren, SS Zhu, JM Wan (2019) Small Grain and Dwarf 2, encoding an HD-Zip II family transcription factor, regulates plant development by modulating gibberellin biosynthesis in rice. Plant Science 288:1102. (co-first author)

11.     CL Shi, YL Ren, LL Liu, F Wang, H Zhang, P Tian, T Pan, YF Wang, RN Jing, TZ Liu, FQ Wu, QB Lin, CL Lei, X Zhang, SS Zhu, XP Guo, JL Wang, ZC Zhao, J Wang, HQ Zhai, ZJ Cheng, JM Wan (2019) Ubiquitin Specific Protease 15 Has an Important Role in Regulating Grain Width and Size in Rice. Plant Physiology, 180:381–391.

12.     YQ Heng, CY Wu, Y Long, S Luo, J Ma, J Chen, JF Liu, H Zhang, YL Ren, M Wang, JJ Tan, SS Zhu, JL Wang, CL Lei, X Zhang, XP Guo, HY Wang, ZJ Cheng, JM Wan (2018) OsALMT7 Maintains Panicle Size and Grain Yield in Rice by Mediating Malate Transport. The Plant Cell, Vol. 30: 889–906. (co-correspondent)

13.     J Ma, J Chen, M Wang, YL Ren, S Wang, CL Lei, ZJ Cheng, Sodmergen (2018) Disruption of OsSEC3A increases the content of salicylic acid and induces plant defense responses in rice. Journal of Experimental Botany, 69: 1051–1064. (co-correspondent)

14.     Z Zhang, F Zhang, ZJ Cheng, LL Liu, QB Lin, FQ Wu, H Zhang, JL Wang, J Wang, XP Guo, X Zhang, CL Lei, ZC Zhao, SS Zhu, JM Wan (2017) Functional characterization of rice CW-domain containing zinc finger proteins involved in histone recognition. Plant Science 263:168–176. (co-first author)

15.     J Ma, ZJ Cheng, J Chen, JB Shen, BC Zhang, YL Ren, Y Ding, YH Zhou, H Zhang, KN Zhou, JL Wang, CL Lei, X Zhang, XP Guo, H Gao, YQ Bao, JM Wan (2016) Phosphatidylserine Synthase Controls Cell Elongation Especially in the Uppermost Internode in Rice by Regulation of Exocytosis. PLOS ONE, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0153119 (co-first author.& correspondent).

16.     CL Wang, Y Wang, ZJ Cheng, ZG Zhao, J Chen, PK Sheng, Y Yu, WW Ma, EC Duan, FQ Wu, LL Liu, RZ Qin, X Zhang, XP Guo, JL Wang, L Jiang, JM Wan (2016) The role of OsMSH4 in male and female gamete development in rice meiosis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 67(5): 1447-1459. (co-first author)

17.     XL Wang, ZJ Cheng, ZC Zhao, L Gan, RZ Qin, KN Zhou, WW Ma, BC Zhang, JL Wang, HQ Zhai, JM Wan (2016) BRITTLE SHEATH1 encoding OsCYP96B4 is involved in secondary cell wall formation in rice. 2016. Plant Cell Report, 35:745–755. (co-first author)

18.     Z Zhang, ZJ Cheng, L Gan, H Zhang, FQ Wu, QB Lin, JL Wang, J Wang, XP Guo, X Zhang, ZC Zhao, CL Lei, SS Zhu, CM Wang, JM Wan (2016) OsHSD1, a hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, is involved in cuticle formation and lipid homeostasis in rice. Plant Science, 249: 35–45. (co-first author)

19.     M Wang, LP Chen, RZ Qin, HT Zhang, YS Shi, QQ Chen, S Luo, F Wang, ZJ Cheng (2016) Fine mapping of a day-length-sensitive dwarf gene in rice. Plant Breeding, 135:580-587. (correspondent)

20.     L Gan, XL Wang, ZJ Cheng, LL Liu, JL Wang, Z Zhang, YL Ren, CL Lei, ZC Zhao, SS Zhu, QB Lin, FQ Wu, XP Guo, J Wang, X Zhang, JM Wan (2016) Wax crystal-sparse leaf 3 encoding a b-ketoacyl-CoA reductase is involved in cuticular wax biosynthesis in rice. 2016. Plant Cell Report 35:1687–1698. (co-first author)

21.     W Dong, ZJ Cheng, CL Lei, XL Wang, JL Wang, J Wang, FQ Wu, X Zhang, XP Guo, HQ Zhai, JM Wan (2014) Overexpression of Folate Biosynthesis Genes in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Evaluation of Their Impact on Seed Folate Content. Plant Foods Hum Nutrition, 69:379–385. (co-first author)

22.     W Dong, ZJ Cheng, JL Xu, TQ Zheng, XL Wang, HZ Zhang, J Wang, JM Wan (2014) Identification of QTLs Underlying Folate Content in Milled Rice. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13: 1827-1834. (co-first author)

23.     XF Ma, ZJ Cheng, RZ Qin, Y Qiu, YQ Heng, H Yang, YL Ren, XL Wang, JC Bi, XD Ma, X Zhang, JL Wang, CL Lei, XP Guo, J wang, FQ Wu, L Jiang, HY Wang, JM Wan (2013) OsARG encodes an arginase that plays critical roles in panicle development and grain production in rice. The Plant Journal, 73, 190–200. (co-first author)

24.     H Chen, ZJ Cheng, XD Ma, H Wu, YL Liu, KN Zhou, YL Chen, WW Ma, JC Bi, X Zhang, XP Guo, JL Wang, CL Lei, FQ Wu, QB Lin, YQ Liu, LL Liu, L Jiang (2013) A knockdown mutation of YELLOW-GREEN LEAF2 blocks chlorophyll biosynthesis in rice. Plant Cell Report, 32:1855–1867. (co-first author)

25.     XD Ma, ZJ Cheng, FQ Wu, MN Jin, LG Zhang, F Zhou, JL Wang, KN Zhou, J Ma, QB Lin, CL Lei, JM Wan (2013) BEAK LIKE SPIKELET1 is required for Lateral Development of Lemma and Palea in Rice. Plant Mol Biol Rep, 31:98-108. (co-first author)

26.     H Li, L Jiang, JH Youn, W Sun, ZJ Cheng, TY Jin, XD Ma, XP Guo, JL Wang, X Zhang, FQ Wu, CY Wu, SK Kim, JM Wan (2013) A comprehensive genetic study reveals a crucial role of CYP90D2/D2 in regulating plant architecture in rice (Oryza sativa). New Phytologist, 200: 1076–1088.

27.     F Zhou, QB Lin, LH Zhu, YL Ren, KN Zhou, N Shabek, FQ Wu, HB Mao, W Dong, L Gan, WW Ma, H Gao, J Chen, C Yang, D Wang, JJ Tan, X Zhang, XP Guo, JL Wang, L Jiang, X Liu, WQ Chen, JF Chu, CY Yan, K Ueno, S Ito, T Asami, ZJ Cheng, J Wang, CL Lei, HQ Zhai, CY Wu, HY Wang, N Zheng, JM Wan (2013) D14–SCFD3-dependent degradation of D53 regulates strigolactone signaling. Nature, 504, 406 – 410.

28.     LG Zhang, ZJ Cheng, RZ Qin, Y Qiu, JL Wang, XK Cui, LF Gu, X Zhang, XP Guo, D Wang, L Jiang, CY Wu, HY Wang XF Cao, JM Wan (2012) Identification and Characterization of an Epi-Allele of FIE1 Reveals a Regulatory Linkage between Two Epigenetic Marks in Rice. The Plant Cell. 24:4407-21. (co-first author)

29.     XF Ma, ZJ Cheng, RZ Qin, Y Qiu, YQ Heng, H Yang, YL Ren, XL Wang, JC Bi, XD Ma, X Zhang, JL Wang, CL Lei, XP Guo, J wang, FQ Wu, L Jiang, HY Wang, JM Wan (2013) OsARG encodes an arginase that plays critical roles in panicle development and grain production in rice. The Plant Journal. 73:190–200. (co-first authors)

30.     QB Lin, D Wang, H Dong, SH Gu, ZJ Cheng, J Gong, RZ Qin, L Jiang, G Li, JL Wang, FQ Wu, XP Guo, X Zhang, CL Lei, HY Wang, JM Wan (2012) Rice APC/CTE controls tillering by mediating the degradation of monoCuLm 1. Nature communications. DODOI: 10.1038/ncomms1716.

31.      BG Mao, ZJ Cheng, CL Lei, FH Xu, SW Gao, YL Ren, JL Wang, X Zhang, J Wang, FQ Wu, XP Guo, XL Liu, CY Wu, HY Wang, JM Wan (2012) Wax crystal-sparse leaf2, a rice homologue of WAX2/GL1, is involved in synthesis of leaf cuticular wax. Planta, 235:39-52. (co-first authors)

32.      ZJ Cheng, BG Mao, SW Gao, L Zhang, JL Wang, CL Lei, X Zhang, FQ Wu, XP Guo, JM Wan (2011) Fine Mapping of qPAA8, a Gene Controlling Panicle Apical Development in Rice. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 53: 710–718.

33.      W Dong, ZJ Cheng, XL Wang, B Wang, HZ Zhang, N Su, C Yamamaro, CL Lei, J Wang, JL Wang, X Zhang, XP Guo, FQ Wu, HQ Zhai, JM Wan (2011) Determination of folate content in rice germplasm (Oryza sativa L.) using tri-enzyme extraction and microbiological assays. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 7:537-543. (co-first authors)

34.      GY Zhang, ZJ Cheng, X Zhang, XP Guo, N Su, L Jiang, L Mao, JM Wan (2011) Double repression of soluble starch synthase genes SSIIa and SSIIIa in rice (Oryza sativa L.) uncovers interactive effects on the physicochemical properties of starch. Genome, 54: 448–459.

35.      ZJ Cheng, M Murata, Sodmergen, XM Li, H Nian, JM Wan (2008) Effects on Genome Constitution and Novel Cell Wall Formation Caused by the Addition of 5RS Rye Chromosome to Common Wheat，Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 50: 503–509.

36.      ZJ Cheng, M Murata (2003) A Centromeric Tandem Repeat Family Originating from a Part of Ty3/gypsy-Retroelement in Wheat and Its Relatives. Genetics, 164: 665–672.

37.      ZJ Cheng, M Murata (2002) Loss of chromosome 2R and 5RS in octoploid triticale selected for agronomic traits. Genes Genet. Syst., 77:23-29.