He Caiyun

Prof.  He Caiyun

Organization: Research Insitute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry

Research category: Silviculture

Research field: Tree breeding and cultivation

E-mail: hecy@caf.ac.cn

Main work

The research goal is to elucidate the physiological and genetic mechanismsof Seabuckthorn fruit development and quality formation. Prof. He Caiyun's team present a chromosome-level genome assembly of seabuckthorn, two sequential tetraploidizations were inferred. Comparative transcriptomic and metabonomic analyses identified some key genes contributing to high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin C. Genes in selective sweep regions identified through population genomic analysis appeared to contribute to the richness of vitamin C and fatty acid in Seabuckthorn fruits. Their research offers novel insights into the molecular basis underlying phytochemical innovation of seabuckthorn, and provides valuable resources for exploring the evolution of the Elaeagnaceae family and molecular breeding. The mechanism of berry color formation and its relationship with antioxidants were analyzed, and the important role of glucuronic acid pathway and recycling pathway in the accumulation of high vitamin C in Seabuckthorn was found. They identified the important regulatory roles of 6mA DNA methylation, circRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in the ripening process of Seabuckthorn fruits, and we confirmed two important lncRNAs involved in anthocyanin synthesis that play a role in ceRNA regulation.

In addition to this, The physiological and molecular basis of drought resistance of Seabuckthorn has been revealed by DNA/RNA methylation, and Prof. He Caiyun's team established physiological and gene co-expression networks for its drought stress response. The effects of abscisic acid and flavonoid-dependent signaling pathways on drought resistance of Seabuckthorn subspecies also were elucidated.

Key research projects

  • Synthesis and molecular regulation mechanism of characteristic components of woody oil tree species, The National Key R&D Program of China (2023YFD2200304), 2023-2028

  • Creation and selection of high-quality and high-yield germplasm of Seabuckthorn, The National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFD2200401-5), 2022-2027

  • Molecular mechanism of accumulating high level vitamin C and analysis of its key biosynthetic enzyme in sea buckthorn fruits (U2003116), National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2021-2023

  • Molecular mechanism of drought resistance regulated by histone acetylation in sea buckthorn (6192027)，Beijing Natural Science Foundation of China, 2019-2021

  • Regulation of pigmentation and development in (red- and yellow-fleshed) Hippophae fruits by noncoding RNA (31470616)，National Natural Science Foundation of China，2015-2018

Awards & achievements

  • 3rd, 1st Awards of 13th Liang Xi Forestry Science and Technology Award, 2023

  • 4rd, 2nd Awards of 11th Liang Xi Forestry Science and Technology Award, 2020

Published articles & books

  • Bingbing Ni, Hong Liu, Zhaoshan Wang, Guoyun Zhang, Ziyang Sang, Juanjuan Liu, Caiyun He*, Jianguo Zhang*. A chromosome-scale genome of Rhus chinensis Mill. provides new insights into plant–insect interaction and gallotannins biosynthesis [J]. The plant journal, 2024, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.16631

  • Jiayi Li, Jihua Wei, Yating Song, Ning Chen, Bingbing Ni, Jianguo Zhang, Caiyun He*. Histone H3K9 acetylation modulates gene expression of key enzymes in the flavonoid and abscisic acid and enhances drought resistance of sea buckthorn [J]. Physiologia Plantarum, 2023, 175(3):1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13936

  • Yating Song, Guoyun Zhang, Ning Chen, Jianguo Zhang*, Caiyun He*. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses provide insights into the flavonoid biosynthesis in sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) [J]. LWT-Food Science and Technology, 2023, 187:115276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2023.115276

  • Liyang Yu, Songfeng Diao, Guoyun Zhang, Jiguo Yu, Hongmei Luo, Aiguo Duan, Jinpeng Wang*, Caiyun He*, Jianguo Zhang*. Genome sequence and population genomics provide insights into chromosomal evolution and phytochemical innovation of Hippophae rhamnoides, Plant Biotechnology Journal, 2022, 20(7): 1257-1273.

  • Guoyun Zhang, Songfeng Diao, Yating Song, Caiyun He*, Jianguo Zhang*. Genome-wide DNA N6-adenine methylation in sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) fruit development, Tree Physiology, 2022, 42 (6): 1286–1295

Other results

  • Hongji No.1, Hippophae (excellent germplasm), S-SV-HR-020-2021. State Forestry and Grass Administration

  • Zhongji No.3, Hippophae (excellent germplasm), S-SV-HR-021-2021. State Forestry and Grass Administration

  • Zhongji No.4, Hippophae (excellent germplasm), S-SV-HR-022-2021. State Forestry and Grass Administration