Li Youzhi，Level-2 professor，Supervisor as postgraduates and co-supervisor as postdoctors; and the current Chairman of the Teaching Guidance Committee for Biological Science and Biotechnology in Guangxi Undergraduate Universities.

 

Biography

He worked as former vice-president (2006-2018), and deputy secretary of the Party Committee and executive vice-president of the college (2018-2023), PI of the State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, and visiting scholars at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in United States (2004-2005) and at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich in Switzerland (2014-2015). He has taken charge of multiple national- and provincial-level major projects.

 

Research Interests

Molecular mechanisms involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses and photoperiod changes, formation of high starch content, and development and formation of starch storage roots in cassava, as well as development and utilization of microbial resources.

 

Sci-Tech awards received

One second prize and one third prize of the Guangxi Natural Science Award, as well as one second prize of the Guangxi Science and Technology Progress

Award

 

Main honors

The Lifetime Honorary Director of the National Society of Agricultural Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; the Outstanding Contributor of Guangxi University 90th Anniversary; Baosteel Excellent Teacher; and the Annual Top Ten Teachers and the 2nd Teaching Master of Guangxi University.

 

Main publications 

1.    Xu YJ, Qi YH , Xie J, Qin QJ, Huang G, Tang PD, Jin C, Wang B*, Li YZ*, Fang WX* (2024) A Yokenella regensburgei strain effectively removes Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) through a combination of absorption and mineralization modes. Journal of Water Process Engineering 58:104805.

2.    Ma Q*, Feng Y, Luo S, Cheng L, Tong W, Lu X, Li Y*, Zhang P* (2023) The aquaporin MePIP2;7 improves MeMGT9-mediated Mg²⁺ acquisition in cassava. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 65:2349-2367.

3.    Pei YY, Lei, L, Fan XW, Li YZ* (2023) Effects of high air temperature, drought, and both combinations on maize: A case study. Plant Science 327:111543.

4.    Lei L, Pan H, Hu HY, Fan XW, Wu ZB, Li YZ (2023) Characterization of ZmPMP3g function in drought tolerance of maize. Scientific Reports 13(1):7375.

5.    Chen X, Yang C, Palta JA, Li Y*, Fan X* (2022) An Enterobacter cloacae strain NG-33 that can solubilize phosphate and promote maize growth. Frontiers in Microbiology 13:1047313. 

6.    Wang R, Fan XW, Li YZ* (2022) Efficient removal of a low concentration of Pb(II), Fe(III) and Cu(II) from simulated drinking water by co-immobilization between low-dosages of metal-resistant/adapted fungus Penicillium janthinillum and graphene oxide and activated carbon. Chemosphere 286(Pt 1):131591. 

7.    Dong MY, Lei L, Fan XW*, Li YZ* (2021) Analyses of open-access multi-omics data sets reveal genetic and expression characteristics of maize ZmCCT family genes. AoB Plants 13(5):plab048. 

8.    Dong MY, Lei L, Fan XW, Li YZ* (2020) Dark response genes: a group of endogenous pendulum/timing players in maize? Planta 252(1):1. 

9.    Dong MY, Fan XW, Pang XY, Li YZ* (2019) Decrypting tubby-like protein gene family of multiple functions in starch root crop cassava. AoB Plants 11(6):plz075.

10.    Dong MY, Fan XW, Li YZ (2019) Cassava AGPase genes and their encoded proteins are different from those of other plants. Planta 250(5):1621-1635.

11.    Wang X, Qin LF, Zeng ZX, Zhou J, Li YZ*, Fan XW* (2019) Validation of spectrophotometric determination of chlorogenic acid in fermentation broth and fruits. Food Chemistry 278(25):170-177.

12.    Wang X, Qin L, Zhou J, Li Y, Fan X (2018) A novel design to screen chlorogenic acid-producing microbial strains from the environment. Scientific Reports 8(1):14756.

13.    Cheng YE , Dong MY, Fan XW, Nong LL, Li YZ (2018）A study on cassava tolerance to and growth responses under salt stress. Environmental and Experimental Botany 155:429-440.

14.    Li YZ,  Fan XW,  Chen Q,  Zhong H (2017) A photoperiod-responsive protein compendium and conceptual proteome roadmap outline inmaize grown in growth chambers with controlled conditions. PLoS One 12(4):e0174003.

15.    Feng X, Xu J, Liang Y, Chen GL, Fan XW, Li YZ (2017) A proteomic-based investigation of potential copper-responsive biomarkers: Proteins,conceptual networks,and metabolic pathways featuring Penicillium janthinellum from a heavy metal-polluted ecological niche. Microbiologyopen 6(4):e485.

16.    Cai CX, Xu J, Deng NF, Dong XW, Tang H, Liang Y, Fan XW, Li YZ (2016) A novel approach of utilization of the fungal conidia biomass to remove heavy metals from the aqueous solution through immobilization. Scientific Reports 6:36546.

17.    Li YZ*, Zhao JY, Wu SM, Fan XW, Luo XL, Chen BS* (2016) Characters related to higher starch accumulation in cassava storage roots. Scientific Reports 6:19823.

18.    Xu J, Chen GL, Sun XZ, Fan XW, Li YZ (2015) Paths and determinants for Penicillium janthinellum to resist low and high copper. Scientific Reports 5:10590

19.    Wang L, Fan XW, Pan JL, Huang ZB, Li YZ (2015) Physiological characterization of maize tolerance to low dose of aluminum, highlighted by promoted leaf growth. Planta 242(6):1391-1403.

20.    Chen Q, Zhong H, Fan XW, Li YZ (2015) An insight into the sensitivity of maize to photoperiod changes under controlled conditions. Plant, Cell & Environment 38(8): 1479–1489.

21.    Qin HJ, Pan H , Fan XW, Wu Q, Li YZ (2014) Characterization of the promoter of a homolog of maize MADS-box gene m18. Journal of Integrative Agriculture (formerly Agricultural Sciences in China) 13(11): 60345-60347.

22.    Huang GH, Tian HH, Liu HY, Fan XW, Liang Y, Li YZ (2013) Characterization of plant-growth-promoting effects and concurrent promotion of heavy metal accumulation in the tissues of the plants grown in the polluted soils by Burkholderia strain LD-11. International Journal of Phytoremediation 15(10):991-1009.

23.    Xu J, Song XC, Zhang Q, Pan H, Liang Y, Fan XW, Li YZ (2011) Characterization of metal removal of immobilized Bacillus strain CR-7 biomass from aqueous solutions. Journal of Hazardous Materials 187: 450-458.

24.    Lu HF, Dong HT, Sun CB, Qing DJ, Li N, Wu ZK, Wang ZQ, Li YZ (2011) The panorama of physiological responses and gene expression of whole plant of maize inbred line YQ7-96 at the three-leaf stage under water deficit and re-watering. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 123(6): 943-958.

25.    Li YZ, Pan H, Xu J, Fan XW, Song XC, Zhang Q, Xu J, Liu Y (2010) Characterization of metal removal by os sepiae of Sepiella maindroni Rochebrune from aqueous solutions. Journal of Hazardous Materials 179 (1-3): 266–275.

26.    Li YZ, Lu HF, Fan XW, Sun CB, Qing DJ, Dong HT, Wang L (2010) Physiological responses and comparative transcriptional profiling of maize roots and leaves under imposition and removal of aluminum toxicity. Environmental and Experimental Botany 69(2):158–166.

27.    Li YZ, Pan YH, Sun CB, Dong HT, Luo XL, Wang ZQ, Tang JL*, Chen B* (2010) An ordered EST catalogue and gene expression profiles of cassava (Manihot esculenta) at key growth stages. Plant Molecular Biology 74(6):573-590.

28.    Li Y, Sun C, Huang Z, Pan J, Wang L, Fan X (2009) Mechanisms of progressive water deficit tolerance and growth recovery of Chinese maize foundation genotypes of Huangzao 4 and Chang 7-2, which are proposed on the basis of comparison of physiological and transcriptomic responses. Plant & Cell Physiology 50(12): 2092–2111.

29.    Liu Y, Sun C, Xu J, Li Y (2009) The use of raw and acid-pretreated bivalve mollusk shells to remove metals from aqueous solutions. Journal of Hazardous Materials 168(1):156-162.

30.    Oh DH, Leidi E, Zhang Q, Hwang SM, Li Y, Quintero FJ, Jiang X, D'Urzo MP, Lee SY, Zhao Y, Bahk JD, Bressan RA, Yun DJ, Pardo JM, Bohnert HJ (2009) Loss of halophytism by interference with SOS1 expression. Plant Physiology 151(1):210-222.

31.    Qing DJ, Lu HF, Li N, Dong HT, Dong DF, Li YZ (2009) Comparative profiles of gene expression in leaves and roots of maize seedlings under conditions of salt stress and the removal of salt stress. Plant & Cell Physiology 50(4): 889–903.

32.    Oh DH, Gong Q, Ulanov A, Zhang Q, Li Y, Ma W, Yun DJ, Bressan RA,  Bohnert HJ (2007) Sodium stress in the halophyte Thellungiella halophila and transcriptional changes in a thsos1-RNA interference line. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 49 (10): 1484–1496.