苹果育种课题组专门从事苹果新品种培育和国外苹果良种的引种示范研究，先后主持或参与完成了“十五”、“十一五”、“十二五”国家863、国家科技攻关（支撑）、科技部农业科技成果转化资金、国家苹果产业技术体系、农业部行业科技专项等重大课题；培育和引进的系列良种已在生产上取得了良好的经济效益。育成苹果新品种12个，获得河南省农牧渔业丰收奖1项、科技进步二等奖3项、三等奖1项。目前课题组承担有自然科学基金、国家重点研发计划、国家现代苹果产业技术体系等多项关于苹果育种、栽培技术研究和产业示范的课题，致力于苹果育种、不同生态区品种适应性筛选、苹果简单高效栽培模式等方面的研究，尤其是苹果早中熟品种的培育方面处于国内前沿。团队引进国外专家1名，有研究员2名，副研究员2名，博士4名。在读博士生2名，硕士生1名。

国家重点研发项目“仁果类果实无核与单性结实相关基因的发掘与功能解析”，2018YFD1000106，2018年07月至2022年12月，50万。

中国农业科学院基本科研业务费专项所级统筹项目所级统筹“苹果协同创新”，2019年-2021月，50万/年

Overcoming pollination barriers

Fruit production without fertilization

仁果类果实无核与单性结实相关基因的发掘与功能解析

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Zhou, Z.,Zhu, Y., Tian, Y., Yao, J.-L., Bian,S., Zhang, H., Zhang, R., Gao, Q., and Yan, Z. (2021). MdPR4, apathogenesis-related protein in apple, is involved in chitin recognition andresistance response to apple replant disease pathogens. Journal of Plant Physiology260, 153390.

Guo, J., Cao,K., Deng, C.C.L., Li, Y., Zhu, G.R., Fang, W.C., Chen, C.W., Wang, X.W., Wu,J.L., Guan, L.P., Wu, S., Guo, W.W., Yao,J.L. *, Fei, Z.J*., and Wang, L.R. *(2020). An integrated peach genome structural variation map uncovers genesassociated with fruit traits. Genome Biology 21. doi:10.1186/s13059-020-02169-y

Gu, C., Xu,H.-Y., Zhou, Y.-H., Yao, J.-L., Xie,Z.-H., Chen, Y.-Y., and Zhang, S.-L. (2020). Multiomics analyses unveil theinvolvement of microRNAs in pear fruit senescence under high-or low-temperatureconditions. Horticulture research 7,1-12.

Shi, M.Y.,Liu, X., Zhang, H.P., He, Z.Y., Yang, H.B., Chen, J.J., Feng, J., Yang, W.H.,Jiang, Y.W., Yao, J.L., Deng, C.H.,and Xu, J. (2020). The IAA- and ABA-responsive transcription factor CgMYB58upregulates lignin biosynthesis and triggers juice sac granulation in pummelo. HorticultureResearch 7. doi: 10.1038/s41438-020-00360-7

Xue, C.§,Yao, J.L§., Xue, Y.S.,Su, G.Q., Wang, L., Lin, L.K., Allan, A.C., Zhang, S.L., and Wu, J. (2019b).PbrMYB169 positively regulates lignification of stone cells in pear fruit. Journalof Experimental Botany 70, 1801-1814. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erz039 (co-firstauthor)

Chen, J.,Yuan, Z., Zhang, H., Li, W., Shi, M., Peng, Z., Li, M., Tian, J., Deng, X.,Cheng, Y., Deng, C.H., Xie, Z., Zeng, J., Yao,J.-L*., and Xu, J*. (2019). Cit1,2RhaT and two novelCitdGlcTs participate in flavor-related flavonoid metabolism during citrusfruit development. Journal of Experimental Botany 70, 2759-2771. doi:10.1093/jxb/erz081

Wang, X.B., Zeng,W.F., Ding, Y.F., Wang, Y., Niu, L., Yao,J.L., Pan, L., Lu, Z.H., Cui, G.C., Li, G.H., and Wang, Z.Q. (2019a). Peachethylene response factor PpeERF2 represses the expression of ABA biosynthesisand cell wall degradation genes during fruit ripening. Plant Science 283, 116-126. doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.02.009

Wang, X.B.,Zeng, W.F., Ding, Y.F., Wang, Y., Niu, L., Yao,J.L., Pan, L., Lu, Z.H., Cui, G.C., Li, G.H., and Wang, Z.Q. (2019b).PpERF3 positively regulates ABA biosynthesis by activating PpNCED2/3transcription during fruit ripening in peach. Horticulture Research 6. doi: 10.1038/s41438-018-0094-2

Xue, C., Yao, J.L., Qin, M.F., Zhang, M.Y.,Allan, A.C., Wang, D.F., and Wu, J. (2019). PbrmiR397a regulates lignificationduring stone cell development in pear fruit. Plant Biotechnology Journal17, 103-117. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12950

Zhang, H.,Liu, C., Yao, J.-L., Deng, C.H.,Chen, S., Chen, J., Wang, Z., Yu, Q., Cheng, Y., and Xu, J. (2019). Citrusmangshanensis Pollen Confers a Xenia Effect on Linalool Oxide Accumulation inPummelo Fruit by Enhancing the Expression of a Cytochrome P450 78A7 GeneCitLO1. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.9b03158

Zhang, Y., Yao, J.L., Feng, H., Jiang, J.F., Fan,X.C., Jia, Y.F., Wang, R., and Liu, C.H. (2019). Identification of thedefense-related gene VdWRKY53 from the wild grapevine Vitis davidii using RNAsequencing and ectopic expression analysis in Arabidopsis. Hereditas 156. doi:10.1186/s41065-019-0089-5

Yao,J.-L., Xu, J., Cornille, A., Tomes, S., Karunairetnam, S., Luo, Z., Bassett,H., Whitworth, C., Rees-George, J., Ranatunga, C., Snirc, A., Crowhurst, R., DeSilva, N., Warren, B., Deng, C., Kumar, S., Chagné, D., Bus, V.G.M., Volz,R.K., Rikkerink, E.H.A., Gardiner, S.E., Giraud, T., Macdiarmid, R., andGleave, A.P. (2015). A microRNA allele that emerged prior to appledomestication may underlie fruit size evolution. The Plant Journal 84, 417-427.doi: 10.1111/tpj.13021

Ireland,H.S., Yao, J.-L., Tomes, S., Sutherland, P.W., Nieuwenhuizen, N., Gunaseelan,K., Winz, R.A., David, K.M., and Schaffer, R.J. (2013). Apple SEPALLATA1/2‐likegenes control fruit flesh development and ripening. The Plant Journal 73, 1044-1056.

Schaffer, R.J., Friel, E.N., Souleyre,E.J., Bolitho, K., Thodey, K., Ledger, S., Bowen, J.H., Ma, J.-H., Nain, B.,and Cohen, D. Yao, J.L.

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Ampomah-Dwamena,C., Morris, B.A., Sutherland, P., Veit, B., and Yao, J.L. (2002). Down-regulation of TM29, a tomato SEPALLATAhomolog, causes parthenocarpic fruit development and floral reversion. Plant Physiology 130, 605-617. doi: 10.1104/pp.005223

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Gleave A, Yao JL 2016. Methods and materials for producing fruit of altered size. International Publication Number  WO/2016/038511

Ireland H, Schaffer R, Yao JL 2016. Methods and materials for producing coreless fruit. International Publication Number WO/2016/016855

Yao JL, Ampomah-Dwamena C 2008. Methods for modulating plant growth and biomass. US Patent 7,371,927.

Belanger H, Watson JD, Yao JL, Prestidge R, Lough TJ 2007. Process for the production of biofuel from plant materials. WO 2007/129921, US Patent 7,649,986.

Yao JL, Ampomah-Dwamena C 2005. Plant cell cycle genes and methods of use. International Publication Number WO2005/010191.

Yao JL, Lin-Wang K 2005. Eucalyptus transformation method. International Publication Number WO 2005/032241.

Phillips J, Puthigae S, Yao JL, Flinn B, Forster R, Eagleton C 2004. Vascular-preferred promoters. International Publication Number WO2004/0448595. US Patent 7442786 B2

Yao JL, Morris B 2001. Seedless fruit production. International Publication Number WO 01/17334, New Zealand patent number: NZ 337688.