Our group belongs to one of the two key laboratories under Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XTBG-CAS), the Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Plant Resources. This research group was recently established on June 1, 2022 under the leadership of professor Yang Yongping as the group leader. At present, our group consists of one professor, one re-employed (after retirement) professor, one associate professor, two postdoctoral  fellows, heigh PhD students and 25 master degree students（including collaborative students）.  

Direction: Our research group focuses on plant genome evolution and secondary metabolism. 

Scientific research focus: Our research team employs tropical resource plants as research materials to investigate the genetic regulation mechanism of plant secondary production synthesis through genomics, comparative genomics and metabolomics. We aimed:  

· To search for key genes or gene clusters in the metabolic pathway. 

· To verify the function of genes, to explore the biological significance of gene function and secondary metabolites. 

· To study the biosynthesis of active compounds. 

Core research ideas: Secondary metabolites are the products of plant resistance to other organisms or reacting to ecological processes. Their synthesis process is controlled by gene, environmental pressure, and are considered as a result of plant long-term evolution outcomes. We examine metabolites that show clear market demand and efficacy, and employ comparative genomics and metabolomics to analyze unravel the metabolic pathway as well as their key gene regulation mechanisms. We search for genome evolution and adaptability to explain the biological significance of secondary metabolites. For achieving our research goals, we make use of cutting-edge technologies and tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and microbial engineering to provide a basis for the biosynthesis of important active compounds. 

Research content and materials: 

· Materials: the following plants species are our target materials so far Murraya paniculata, Canaga ordorata, Cinnamomum tenuipile, Nothapodytes nimmoniana, Brassica rapa var. rapa.  

· Method: Genome sequencing, Population genetics, Metabolomic determination, Molecular biology 

· Objectives: 1. To reveal the molecular regulating mechanism and biological significance of phenylacetaldehyde synthesis from Murraya paniculata, essential oil synthesis from Canaga ordorata, camptothecin synthesis from Nothapodytes nimmoniana, and linalool synthesis from Cinnamomum tenuipile. 2. To evaluate the content of glucosinolates in different local varieties of turnip, through the construction of turnip pan-genome and variation set, the resequencing of turnip and genome-wide association study (GWAS). 3. To analyze the genetic basis of high content glucoraphan in varieties in turnip, and to cultivate high content glucoraphanin varieties in turnip with traditional breeding or CRISPR/Cas9.