Colleges & Faculties

I. Personal information

Tian Ji, PhD, professor, Chair of the Department of Horticulture. He received his PhD in 2013 from the China Agricultural University, specializing in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Plants. Dr. Tian currently serves as a part-time graduate advisor at the College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University; Deputy Director of Key Laboratory of New Technology in Agricultural Application of Beijing; Secretary General of the National Science and Technology Innovation Alliance for Crabapple Industry; Youth Editorial Board Member of Fruit Research; and Scientific Editor of Horticulture Advances. He has been selected as Beijing nova program, outstanding Young Talents of Beijing Municipal Education Commission and National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

II. Research interests

My research focus on the flavonoids biosynthesis in crabapple and apple. (1) Discover the transcription regulation mechanism of long non-coding RNA is involved in regulating apple fruit anthocyanin biosynthesis in different ways; (2) Illustrate the transcription regulation mechanism of and protein post-translational modification in environment factors induced anthocyanin accumulation; (3) Identification the synergy function of transcription factors in different flavonoids compounds accumulation in apple.

III. Major Achievements

He published more than 30 articles, and won 5 provincial and ministerial awards, among which the most important are:

(Ⅰ) Major prize-winning achievements

1. Chinese Agricultural Society Youth Science and Technology Award in 2023 (1).

2. First prize of Shennong China Agricultural Science and Technology Award 2021 (2/18).

(Ⅱ) Representative papers

1. Xing Yifan, Sun Wenjing, Sun, Yuying, Li Jialin, Zhang Jie, Wu Ting, Song Tingting, Yao Yuncong, Tian Ji. MPK6-mediated HY5 phosphorylation regulates light-induced anthocyanin accumulation in apple fruit. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 2023, DOI:10.1111/pbi.13941. (Corresponding author).

2. Ma Huaying, Yang Tuo, Li Yu, Zhang Jie, Wu Ting, Song Tingting, Yao Yuncong*, Tian Ji*. The long noncoding RNA MdLNC499 bridges MdWRKY1 and MdERF109 function to regulate early-stage light-induced anthocyanin accumulation in apple fruit. Plant Cell. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koab188. (Corresponding author).

3. Yu Jiaxuan, Qiu Kainan, Sun Wenjing, Yang Tuo, Wu Ting, Song Tingting, Zhang Jie, Yao Yuncong*, Tian Ji*. A long non-coding RNA functions in high-light-induced anthocyanin accumulation in apple by activating ethylene synthesis. Plant Physiology. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac049. (Corresponding author).

4. Yang Tuo, Ma Huaying, Li Yu, Zhang Yan，Zhang Jie, Wu Ting, Song Tingting, Yao Yuncong*, Tian Ji*. Apple MPK4 mediates phosphorylation of MYB1 to enhance light-induced anthocyanin accumulation. The Plant Journal. 2021, doi: 10.1111/tpj.15267. (Corresponding author).

5. Yang Tuo, Ma Huaying, Zhang Jie, Wu Ting, Song Tingting, Tian Ji*, Yao Yuncong*. Systematic identification of long non-coding RNA s expressed during light-induced anthocyanin accumulation in apple fruit. The Plant Journal, 2019, 100(3): 572-590. (Corresponding author).

6. Yu Lujia, Sun Yuying, Zhang Xi, Chen Mengchen, Wu Ting, Zhang Jie, Wu Ting, Xing Yifan, Tian Ji*,Yao Yuncong*. ROS1 promotes low temperature-induced anthocyanin accumulation in apple by demethylating the promoter of anthocyanin-associated genes. Horticulture Research. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhac007. (Corresponding author).

7. Li Hua, Li Yu, Yu Jiaxuan, Wu Ting, Zhang Jie, Tian Ji*, Yao Yuncong*. MdMYB8 is associated with flavonol biosynthesis via the activation of the MdFLS promoter in the fruits of Malus crabapple. Horticulture Research. 2020, 7: 19. (Corresponding author).

8. Yang Tuo, Li Keting, Hao Suxiao, Zhang Jie, Song Tingting, Tian Ji*, Yao Yuncong*. The use of RNA sequencing and correlation network analysis to study potential regulators of crabapple leaf color transformation. Plant and Cell Physiology, 2018, 59(5): 1027-1042. (Corresponding author).

IV. Contact information

Postal address: College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, No. 7, Beinong Road, Huilongguan, Changping, Beijing, 102206

Contact number: 010-80706337

Email: tianji19850331