RESEARCH INTERESTS
Phytomelatonin signaling and functions;
Crosstalk between phytomelatonin and other hormones;
Molecular breeding.
EDUCATION
09.2007- 08.2012 Ph.D., Environmental Biology
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.
09.2003- 07.2007 B.S., Biology
Department of Biology Science, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
12.2023 – present: Principle Investigator, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS
11.2019 – 12.2023: Full Professor, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
08.2013–10.2019 : Associate Professor, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
10.2016 – 09.2017: Visiting Scholar, UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
09.2012 – 08.2013: Lecturer, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
(1) Xiaomin Li, Zed Rengel, Qi Chen*. Phytomelatonin prevents bacterial invasion during nighttime. Trends in Plant Science, 2022, 27(4): 331- 334.
(2) Jian Wei, Dongxu Li, Jiarong Zhang, Chi Shan, Zed Rengel, Zhongbaong Song, Qi Chen*. Phytomelatonin Receptor PMTR1-Mediated Signaling Regulates Stomatal Closure in Arabidopsis thaliana, Journal of Pineal Research, 2018，65 (2): e12500. DOI: 10.1111/JPI.12500
-Commented by Trends in Plant Science (24: 38-48, 2019): The recent identification of the first plant melatonin receptor has opened the door to this regulatory molecule being considered a new plant hormone;
-Recommended by F1000Prime (Jockers R and Cecon E: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Wei J et al., J Pineal Res 2018 65(2):e12500]. In F1000Prime, 12 Apr 2019; 10.3410/f.733202282.793558558).
(3)Dongxu Li#, Jian Wei#, Zhongping Peng#, Wenna Ma, Zhongbang Song, Wei Sun, Wei Yang, Xiaodong Xu, Wei Chang, Zed Rengel, Jianbo Shen, Russel J. Reiter, Xiuming Cui, Dashi Yu, Qi Chen*. Daily rhythms of phytomelatonin signaling modulate diurnal stomatal closure via regulating reactive oxygen species dynamics in Arabidopsis. Journal of Pineal Research, 2020, 68(3): e12640.
(4) Qian Yang, Zhongping Peng, Wenna Ma, Siqi Zhang, Suyin Hou, Jian Wei, Shuwei Dong, Xuya Yu, Yuzhu Song, Wei Gao, Zed Rengel, Luqi Huang, Xiuming Cui, Qi Chen*. Melatonin functions in priming of stomatal immunity in Panax notoginseng and Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiology, 2021, 187(4): 2837-2851.
-Commented by Plant Physiology (188(1): 14- 15, 2022): Waking up for defense! Melatonin as a regulator of stomatal immunity in plants. The potential role of melatonin keeping plants “awake” to biotic attack might be another path to enhance plant resilience in the near future.
(5) Qi Chen*, Suying Hou, Xiaojun Pu, Xiaomin Li, Rongrong Li, Qian Yang, Xinjia Wang, Miao Guan, Zed Rengel. Dark secrets of phytomelatonin. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2022, 73 (17): 5828- 5839.
(6) Qi Chen*, Marino B Arnao*. Phytomelatonin: an emerging new hormone in plants. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2022, 73 (17): 5773- 5778.
(7) Chen Qi*, Kan Qi, Wang Ping, Yu Wenqian, Yan Zhao, Yongxiong Yu, Kuizhi Li, Limei Chen*. Phosphorylation and interaction with the 14-3-3 protein of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase are involved in the regulation of magnesium-mediated increases in aluminum-induced citrate exudation in broad bean (Vicia faba. L). Plant & Cell Physiology, 2015，56, 1144-1153.
(8) Dongxu Li#, Wenna Ma#, Jian Wei, Yawen Mao, Zhongping Peng, Jiarong Zhang, Xiangying Kong, Qinqin Han, Wei Fan, Ye Yang, Jianghua Chen, Liangquan Wu, Zed Rengel, Xiuming Cui, Qi Chen*. Magnesium promotes root growth and increases aluminum tolerance via modulation of nitric oxide production in Arabidopsis, Plant and Soil, 2020, 457 (1-2): 83-95.
(9) Jiarong Zhang, Dongxu Li, Jian Wei, Wenna Ma, Xiangying Kong, Zed Rengel, Qi Chen*. Melatonin alleviates aluminum-induced root growth inhibition by interfering with nitric oxide signaling in Arabidopsis. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2019, 161: 157-165.
(10) Zirui Wang, Dawood Khan, Leilin Li, Jing Zhang, Zed Rengel, Baige Zhang*, Qi Chen*. Stomatal closure induced by hydrogen-rich water is dependent on GPA1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2022, 183: 72- 75.
