入选省部级重要青年人才项目

教育经历： 2006.01-2020.06 普渡大学（美国），植物和植物病理学系，博士学位 2003.09-2005.12 北达科达州立大学（美国），农学系，博士研究生 1999.09-2002.12 南京农业大学，植物病理学系，硕士学位 1995.09-1999.07 江西农业大学，植物保护系，学士学位

科研与学术工作经历： 2013.11-至今 华中农业大学生命科学技术学院教授/作物遗传改良国家重点实验室独立PI 2010.06-2013.11 普渡大学（美国），博士后

科研项目 1. 国家自然基金面上项目，玉米抗灰斑病qRglsSB基因的克隆及其抗病分子机理的研究，项目批准号：32072007；在研； 2. 国家自然基金国际（地区）合作与交流项目（组织间合作研究-NSFC-CGIAR项目I（国际组织）），玉米抗大斑病遗传基础的剖析和利用，项目批准号：31761143008；在研； 3. 国家重点研发计划（2016YFD0101002）子课题，玉米模拟病斑抗性QTL的克隆及抗病调控网络的探索，结题； 4. 国家自然基金面上项目，抗玉米南方锈病基因RppK22的克隆及其抗病分子机理的研究，项目批准号：31571676；结题；

主讲课程： 普通生物学

以玉米和模式植物为研究对象，结合遗传学、生物化学和多种组学技术，克隆植物抗病基因、揭示植物-病原菌互作分子机制，为作物遗传改良提供新的抗病材料、新的抗病基因和新的育种思路。研究方向包括 1. 玉米抗病基因克隆和抗病分子机制解析； 2. 玉米-病原真菌互作分子机制解析； 3. 细胞自噬介导的植物抗病分子机制解析

1. Wang, H., Hou, J., Ye, P., Hu, L., Huang, J., Dai, Z., Zhang, B., Dai, S., Que, J., Min, H., Chen, G., Wang, Y., Jiang, M., Liang, Y., Li, L., Zhang, X., Lai, Z*. A Teosinte-derived Allele of a MYB Transcription Repressor Confers Multiple Disease Resistance in Maize. Molecular Plant. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2021.07.008. (*通讯作者) (IF: 13.164)

2. Zhang, B., Shao, L., Wang, J., Zhang, Y., Guo, X., Peng, Y., Cao, Y., Lai, Z*. (2020) Phosphorylation of ATG18a by BAK1 suppresses autophagy and attenuates plant resistance against necrotrophic pathogens. Autophagy. DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1810426. (*通讯作者) (IF: 16.016)

3. Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Yu, D., Peng, Y., Min, H., Lai, Z*. (2020) Copper ions are required for Cochliobolus heterostrophus in appressorium formation and virulence on maize. Phytopathology. 110(2): 494-505. (*通讯作者) (IF: 4.025)

4. Li, G., Wang, J., Li, D., Liu, S., Yin, J. *, Lai, Z. *, Yang, G*. A Hg(II)-specific probe for imaging application in living systems and quantitative analysis in environmental/food samples. Chinese Chemical Letters. DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2020.09.040. (*通讯作者) (IF: 4.632)

5. Liao, C., Lai, Z., Lee, S., Yun, D., Mengiste, M*. (2016) Arabidopsis HOOKLESS1 regulates responses to pathogens and abscisic acid through interaction with MED18 and acetylation of WRKY33 and ABI5 chromatin. Plant Cell. 28(7): 1662-1681. (IF: 9.61)

6. Lai, Z., Schluttenhoffer, S.M., Bhide, K., Jacob, S., Thimmapuram, J., Lee, S.Y., Yun, DJ., Mengiste T*. (2014) MED18 interacts with distinct transcription factors regulates plant immunity, flowering time and responses to hormones. Nature Communications. 5:3064. (IF: 12.12)

7. Lai, Z., Mengist, T*. (2013) Genetic and cellular mechanisms regulating plant responses to necrotrophic pathogens. Current opinion in plant biology.16: 505-512.

8. Lai, Z., Li, Y., Wang, F., Cheng, Y., Fan, B., Yu, J., and Chen, Z*. (2011) Arabidopsis Sigma Factor-Binding Proteins are Activators of WRKY33 Transcription factor in Plant Defense. Plant Cell. 23: 3824-3841.

9. Laluk, K., Luo, H., Chai, M., Dhawan, R., Lai, Z., Mengiste, T*. (2011) Biochemical and Genetic Requirements for Function of the Immune Response Regulator BOTRYTIS-INDUCED KINASE1 in plant growth, Ethylene Signaling, and PAMP-Triggered Immunity in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 23: 2831-2849.

10. Lai, Z., Wang, F., Zheng, Z., Fan, B., Chen, Z*. (2011) A Critical Role of Autophagy in Plant Resistance to Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens. Plant Journal. 66: 953-968.

11. Ellwood, SR., Liu, Z., Syme, RA., Lai, Z., Hane, JK., Keiper, F., Moffat, CS., Oliver, RP., Friesen, TL*. (2010) A first genome assembly of the barley fungal pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. teres. Genome Biol. 11(11): R109.

12. Luo, H., Laluk, K., Lai, Z., Veronese, P., Song, F., and Mengiste, T*. (2010) The Arabidopsis Botrytis Susceptible 1 interactor defines a subclass of RING E3 ligases that regulate pathogen and stress responses. Plant Physiology. 154: 1766-1782.

13. Huang, J., Gu, M., Lai, Z., Fan, B., Shi, K., Zhou, YH., Yu, JQ., Chen, Z*. (2010) Functional analysis of the Arabidopsis PAL gene family in pant growth, development, and response to environmental stress. Plant Physiology. 153: 1526-1538.

14. Chen, H., Lai, Z., Shi, J.-W., Xiao, Y., Chen, Z., and Xu, X*. (2010) Roles of Arabidopsis WRKY18, WRKY40 and WRKY60 transcription factors in plant responses to abscisic acid and abiotic stress. BMC Plant Biology 10: 281.

15. Chen, Z.*, Zheng, Z., Huang, J., Lai, Z. and Fan, B. (2009) Biosynthesis of salicylic acid in plants. Plant Signaling & Behavior 4:6, 493-496.

16. Kim, K., Lai, Z., Fan, B., and Chen, Z*. (2008) Arabidopsis WRKY38 and WRKY62 function partially redundantly as negative regulators of systemic acquired resistance. Plant Cell 20:2357-2371.

17. Lai, Z., K. M. Vinod., Zheng, Z., Fan, B., and Chen, Z*. (2008) Role of Arabidopsis WRKY3 and WRKY4 transcription factors in plant responses to pathogens. BMC Plant Biology 8:68.

18. Xing D.#, Lai, Z.#, Zheng, Z., Fan, B., and Chen, Z*. (2008) Stress- and pathogen-induced Arabidopsis WRKY48 is a transcriptional activator that represses plant basal defense. Mol. Plant 1:459-470. (# co-first author)

19. Lai, Z., Faris, J. D., Weiland, J. J., Steffenson, B. J., and Friesen, T. L*. (2007) Genetic mapping of Pyrenophora teres f. teres genes conferring avirulence on barley. Fungal Genet Bio. 44: 323-329.

20. Friesen, T. L.*, Faris, J. D., Lai, Z., and Steffenson, B. J. (2006) Identification and chromosomal location of major genes for resistance to Pyrenophora teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata in a barley doubled haploid population. Genome 49:855-859.