Resume：

• 2016.9-,  Full professor, the Department of Population Genomics, Wuhan Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
  2010.10-2011.11,  Visiting scholar, University of Michigan, USA.
  2009.9-2016.8 Associated professor, the Department of Conservation Genetics, Wuhan Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
  2006.7-2009.8,  Assistant professor, the Department of Conservation Genetics, Wuhan Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
  2003.9-2006.6,  Ph.D. in Botany, the Department of population genetics, Wuhan Botanical Garden, CAS.
  2000.9-2003.7,  Master of Agriculture Degree in Pomology and Biotechnology, the Department of Horticulture Sciences, Jiangxi Agriculture University.
  1996.9-2000.7,  Bachelor of Agriculture Degree in Horticulture Sciences, the Department of Horticulture Sciences, Jiangxi Agriculture University.

Professional specialty：

• My primary research interest is in the exploitation of genetic markers (cpSSR, isozymes, microsatellites, AFLPs, ISSR, SNP), to study questions concerned with the molecular ecology, population genetics, and molecular evolution of plants, especial for kiwifruit species. Over the years, I have been interesting in assessing the impacts of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity and reproductive fitness of forest trees. Using molecular markers and novel statistical approaches (e.g. assignment test), we have shown that contemporary gene flow is very restricted among fragmented populations, which accounts for the local adaptation in tree populations. A second area of interest is adaptation evolution. The extent of local adaptation is determined by the balance between gene flow and natural selection. My next research program will focus on the local adaptation of fragmented population through comparing the genetic divergence of neutral marker loci with quantitative trait genetic differentiation in adaptive traits.

Funded projects：

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Academic service：

• Editor for Plant Science Journal. Guest editor for Horticulturae.

Members：

Aawards and honors：

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Major publications：

• *corresponding author
  1. Yu X^#, Qin M^#, Qu, M, Jiang Q, Guo S, Chen Z, Shen Y, Fu G, Fei Z, Huang H, Gao L^*, Yao X^*. 2023. Genomic analyses reveal dead-end hybridization between two deeply divergent kiwifruit species rather than homoploid hybrid speciation. Plant Journal, 115: 1528-1543 (# equal contribution).
  2. Zhang X^#, Guo R^#, Shen R, Landis JB, Jiang Q, Liu F, Wang H^*, Yao X^*. 2023. The genomic and epigenetic footprint of local adaptation to variable climates in kiwifruit. Horticulture Research, 10: uhad031. (# equal contribution).
  3. Jiang Q, Wang Z, Hu G, Yao X^*. 2022. Genome-wide identifcation and characterization of AP2/ERF gene superfamily during flower development in Actinidia eriantha. BMC Genomics, 23: 650.
  4. Yao X^#, Wang S^#, Wang Z^#, Li D, Jiang Q, Zhang Q, Gao L, Zhong C, Huang H, Liu Y^*. 2022. The genome sequencing and comparative analysis of a wild kiwifruit Actinidia eriantha. Molecular Horticulture, 2: 13. (# equal contribution).
  5. Guo R, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Landis JB, Zhang X, Wang H, Yao X^*. 2022. Molecular phylogeography and species distribution modelling evidence of ‘oceanic’ adaptation for Actinidia eriantha with a refugium along the oceanic–continental gradient in a biodiversity hotspot. BMC Plant Biology, 22: 89.
  6. Wang Z, Zhong C, Li D, Yan CL, Yao X^*, Li Z^*. 2021. Cytotype distribution and chloroplast phylogeography of the Actinidia chinensis complex. BMC Plant Biology, 21: 325.
  7. Wang S^#, Li D^#, Yao X^#, Song Q, Wang Z, Zhang Q, Zhong C, Liu Y^*, Huang H^*. 2019. Evolution and diversification of kiwifruit mitogenomes through extensive whole-genome rearrangement and mosaic loss of intergenic sequences in a highly variable region. Genome Biology and Evolution, 14: 1192-1206. (# equal contribution).
  8. Li L, Xu Q, Yao X^*. 2019. Microsatellite analysis reveals the resilience of genetic diversity within extant populations of three Akebia species to chronic forest fragmentation in China. Plant Ecology, 220: 69-81.
  9. Tang P, Xu Q, Shen R, Yao X^*. 2019. Phylogenetic relationship in Actinidia (Actinidiaceae) based on four noncoding chloroplast DNA sequences. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 305: 787-796.
  10. Liu C, Li D, Zhou J, Zhang Q, Tian H, Yao H^*. 2017. Construction of a SNP-based genetic linkage map for kiwifruit using next-generation restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq). Molecular Breeding, 37: 139.
  11. Liu Y, Li D, Zhang Q, Song C, Zhong C, Zhang X, Wang Y, Yao X, Wang Z, Zeng S, Wang Y, Guo Y, Wang S, Li X, Li L, Liu C, McCann HC, He W, Niu Y, Chen M, Du L, Gong J, Datson PM, Hilario E, Huang H^*. 2017. Rapid radiations of both kiwifruit hybrid lineages and their parents shed light on a two-layer mode of species diversification. New Phytologist, 215: 877-890.
  12. Yang A, Dick CW, Yao X^*, Huang H. 2016. Impacts of biogeographic history and marginal population genetics on species range limits: a case study of Liriodendron chinense. Scientific Reports, 6: 25632.
  13. Yang A, Wei N, Fritsch PW, Yao X^*. 2016. AFLP genome scanning reveals divergent selection in natural populations of Liriodendron chinense (Magnoliaceae) along a latitudinal transect. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7: 698.
  14. Liu C, Zhang Q, Yao X, Zhong C, Yan C, Huang H^*. 2016. Characterization of genome-wide simple sequence repeats and application in interspecific genetic map integration in kiwifruit. Tree Genetics & Genomes, 12: 1-9.
  15. Zhang J, Li Z, Pritsch PW, Tian H, Yang A, Yao X^*. 2015. Phylogeography and genetic structure of a Tertiary relict tree species, Tapiscia sinensis (Tapisciaceae): implications for conservation. Annals of Botany, 116: 727-737.
  16. Yao X, Liu L, Yan M, Li D, Zhong C, Huang H^*. 2015. Exon primed intron-crossing (EPIC) markers reveals natural hybridization and introgression in Actinidia (Actinidiaceae) with sympatric distribution. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 59: 246-255.
  17. Yao X, Tang P, Li Z, Li D, Liu Y, Huang H^*. 2015. The first complete chloroplast genome sequences in Actinidiaceae: genome structure and comparative analysis. PLos ONE, 10: e0129347.
  18. Ye Q, Tang F, Wei N, Yao X^*. 2014. Molecular and quantitative trait variation within and among small fragmented populations of the endangered plant species Psilopeganum sinense. Annals of Botany, 113:79-86.
  19. Zhang J, Xing C, Tian H, Yao X^*. 2013. Microsatellite genetic variation in the Chinese endemic Eucommia ulmoides (Eucommiaceae): implications for conservation. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 173:775-785.
  20. Yao X, Deng J, Hongwen Huang H^*. 2012. Genetic diversity in Eucommia ulmoides (Eucommiaceae), an endangered traditional Chinese medicinal plant. Conservation Genetics, 13:1499-1507.
  21. Tian H, Kang M, Liu Y, Ye Q, Yao X^*. 2012. High genetic diversity in remnant natural populations of Myricaria laxiflora, a species once considered to be extinct in the wild. Aquatic Botany, 103: 48-53.
  22. Zhang J, Ye, Gao P, Yao X^*. 2012. Genetic footprints of habitat fragmentation in the extant populations of Sinojackia (Styracaceae): implications for conservation. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 170: 232-242.
  23. Yao X, Zhang J, Ye Q, Huang H^*. 2011. Fine-scale spatial genetic structure and gene flow in a small, fragmented population of Sinojackia rehderiana (Styracaceae), an endangered tree species endemic to China. Plant Biology, 13: 401-410.
  24. Li L, Yao X, Zhong C, Chen X, Huang H^*. 2010. Akebia: a potential new fruit crop in China. Hortscience, 45: 4-10 (cover story).
  25. Zhang J, Ye Q, Yao X^*, Huang H^*. 2010. Spontaneous interspecific hybridization and patterns of pollen dispersal in ex situ populations of tree species (Sinojackia xylocarpa) that is extinct in the wild species. Conservation Biology, 24: 246-255.
  26. Zhang J, Ye Q, Yao X^*, Huang H. 2010. Microsatellite diversity and mating system of Sinojackia xylocarpa (Styracaceae), a species extinct in the wild. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 38: 154-159.
  27. Yao X, Ye Q, Fritsch PW, Cruz BC, Huang H^*. 2008. Phylogeny of Sinojackia (Styracaceae) based on DNA sequence and microsatellite data: implications for taxonomy and conservation. Annals of Botany, 101: 651-659.
  28. Yao X, Ye Q, Kang M, Huang H^*. 2007. Microsatellites analysis reveals interpopulation differention and gene flow in endangered tree Changiostyrax dolichocarpa (Styracaceae) with fragmented distribution in central China. New Phytologist, 176: 472-480.
  29. Yao X, Ye Q, Ge J, Kang M, Huang H^*. 2007. A new species of Sinojackia (Styracaceae) from Hubei, central China. Novon, 17: 138-140.
  30. Yao X, Ye Q, Kang M, Zhou J, Xu Y, Wang Y, Huang H^*. 2006. Characterization of microsatellite markers in the endangered Sinojackia xylocarpa (Styracaceae) and cross-species amplification in closely related taxa. Molecular Ecology Notes, 6: 133-136.
  31. Ye Q^#, Yao X^#, Zhang S, Kang M, Huang H^*. 2006. Potential risks of hybridization in ex situ collections of two endangered species of Sinojackia Hu (Styracaceae). Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 48: 867-872 (#co-first authors).
  32. Xu X^*, Yao X, Chen H. 2003. Applications of Modern Biotechnology on Kiwifruit. Acta Hort, 610: 525-531.