Direction:

Dr. Zhang Ling studies the phylogeography and reproductive biology of Taccaceae and Zingiberaceae plants. Her research focuses on the sytematics and evolution of reproductive traits, the adaptive radiation and evolution of morphological traits, and the reproductive biology and population genetics structure in Tacca. By comparing the morphological traits  and population genetics structure, they are now attempting to use DNA biocoding and the indagation of geographic distribution to understand the trends in ecology and evolution of these two plants.

Achievements:

Article:

1.Li MR, Sui Y, Wang XN, Ma ZX, Luo YH, Aluthwattha ST, McKey D, Pujol B, Chen J, Zhang L: High outcrossing rates in a self-compatible and highly aggregated host-generalist mistletoe. Molecular Ecology 2022, 31(24):6489-6504.  2.Li MR, Chen J, Zhang L: Host-mediated effects on the reproductive phenological asynchrony of a generalist mistletoe in China. Journal of Plant Ecology 2022, 15(2):294-309.  3.Li MR, Zhang YF, Li YJ, Zhang L: The complete chloroplast genome of Scurrula chingii (WC Cheng) HS Kiu (Loranthaceae), a hemiparasitic shrub. Mitochondrial DNA Part B-Resources 2021, 6(1):282-284.  4.Wang ML, Huang SY, Li MR, McKey D, Zhang L: Staminodes influence pollen removal and deposition rates in nectar-rewarding self-incompatible Phanera yunnanensis (Caesalpinioideae). Journal of Tropical Ecology 2019, 35(1):34-42.  5.Yan J, Wang ML, Zhang L: Light induces petal color change in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae). Plant Diversity 2018, 40(1):28-34.  6.Yan J, Wang G, Sui Y, Wang ML, Zhang L: Pollinator responses to floral colour change, nectar, and scent promote reproductive fitness in Quisqualis indica (Combretaceae). Scientific Reports 2016, 6.  7.Luo YH, Sui Y, Gan JM, Zhang L: Host compatibility interacts with seed dispersal to determine small-scale distribution of a mistletoe in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Journal of Plant Ecology 2016, 9(1):77-86.  8.Zhao YM, Zhang L: The phylogeographic history of the self-pollinated herb Tacca chantrieri (Dioscoreaceae) in the tropics of mainland Southeast Asia. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 2015, 58:139-148.  9.Zhang L, Li HT, Gao LM, Yang JB, Li DZ, Cannon CH, Chen J, Li QJ: Phylogeny and Evolution of Bracts and Bracteoles in Tacca (Dioscoreaceae). Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 2011, 53(11):901-911.  10.Zhang L, Li QJ: Tacca ampliplacenta (Taccaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China. Annales Botanici Fennici 2008, 45(4):311-314.  11.Zhang L, Li QJ, Li HT, Chen J, Li DZ: Genetic diversity and geographic differentiation in Tacca chantrieri (Taccaceae): an autonomous selfing plant with showy floral display. Annals of Botany 2006, 98(2):449-457.  12.Zhang L, Barrett SCH, Gao JY, Chen J, Cole WW, Liu Y, Bai ZL, Li QJ: Predicting mating patterns from pollination syndromes: The case of "sapromyiophily" in Tacca chantrieri (Taccaceae). American Journal of Botany 2005, 92(3):517-524.  13.Liu Y, Qiu YP, Zhang L, Chen J: Dormancy breaking and storage behavior of Garcinia cowa Roxb. (Guttiferae) seeds: Implications for ecological function and germplasm conservation. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 2005, 47(1):38-49.  14.Gao JY, Zhang L, Deng XB, Ren PY, Kong JJ, Li QJ: The floral biology of Curcumorpha longiflora (Zingiberaceae): A ginger with two-day flowers. American Journal of Botany 2004, 91(2):289-293.  15.Chen J, Fleming TH, Zhang L, Wang H, Liu Y: Patterns of fruit traits in a tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology 2004, 26(2):157-164.  16.Zhang L, Li QJ, Deng XB, Ren PY, Gao JY: Reproductive biology of Alpinia blepharocalyx (Zingiberaceae): another example of flexistyly. Plant Systematics and Evolution 2003, 241(1-2):67-76.  17.Li QJ, Kress WJ, Xu ZF, Mia YM, Zhang L, Deng XB, Gao JY: Mating system and stigmatic behaviour during flowering of Alpinia kwangsiensis (Zingiberaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 2002, 232(1-2):123-132.  18.Li QJ, Xu ZF, Xia YM, Zhang L, Deng XB, Gao JY: Study on the flexistyly pollination mechanism in Alpinia plants (Zingiberaceae). Acta Botanica Sinica 2001, 43(4):364-369.  19.Li QJ, Xu ZF, Kress WJ, Xia YM, Zhang L, Deng XB, Gao JY, Bai ZL: Pollination - Flexible style that encourages outcrossing. Nature 2001, 410(6827):432-432.

Community service:

Commitment to research the situation:

Grants 2007-2009 National Natural Science Foundation of China, “Research on the systematics and evolution of reproductive traits in Tacca”. P. I. 2007-2009 Yunnan Provincial Natural Science Foundation Grant, “Research on the adaptive radiation and evolution of morphological traits in Tacca”. P. I. 2003-2006 Yunnan Provincial Natural Science Foundation Grant, “Research on the reproductive biology and its population genetics structure of Tacca chantrieri”. P. I. 2004 Ten-Thousand-Species Project grant of XTBG, “Research on the reproductive biology and its population genetics structure of Tacca chantrieri”. P. I. 2002-2004 Key project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, “Study on the genetic mechanisms of flexistyly and the evolution of the flowers in flowering plants”. Major Participator 2002-2005 Key project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, “Study on the co-evolution of plant and animal and its ecological effects”. Major Participator 2001-2004 National Natural Science Foundation of China, “Study on the Pollination Biology of genus Alpinia (Zingiberaceae)”. Major Participator 2001-2005 XTBG Scientific Foundation, “Study on the Mechanism of Flexistyly in Ginger Family”. Major Participator 1999-2001 Special Support Foundation of CAS, “Animal Impacts on Seed Dispersal of Tropical Woody Plants”. Major Participator 1999-2001 Knowledge Innovation Project, “Calcium content of fig plants and selection of high calcium content species in Xishuangbanna”. P. I. 1993-1999 XTBG Self-prepared Project, “Construction, Introduction and Domestication of Dipterocapaceae Garden, and Ficus Garden”. P. I.