Leadership in Conservation Biology Award Archives

🌱EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Dr. Suilin Zhang began her academic journey with a deep interest in plant molecular biology, specializing in the dormancy and development of high-value crops like blueberries and walnuts. Her early studies focused on plant genetics and crop improvement, providing a strong foundation in molecular markers and genetic analysis.

Currently affiliated with Beijing Forestry University, Dr. Zhang has contributed extensively to the fields of horticultural and forest crop research. She has played a vital role in advancing walnut breeding and molecular marker development, collaborating with prestigious institutions like the Forestry and Fruit Research Institute of the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences.

Dr. Zhang’s primary research areas include the transition of blueberry flower bud dormancy and walnut molecular marker-assisted breeding. She developed 14 high-quality SSR markers and constructed molecular fingerprint maps for 47 walnut germplasm resources, supporting the genetic diversity analysis and identification of F1 progeny from Jinghong 1 and heart-shaped walnuts. This research has significant implications for walnut breeding and crop resilience.

Dr. Zhang’s work has been recognized in several esteemed journals, including Scientia Horticulturae, Planta, Forests, Scientific Reports, Plants, and BMC Plant Biology. She has published six SCI papers, enriching the scientific community’s understanding of genetic diversity and dormancy mechanisms in key crops.

Her research contributions have laid a theoretical foundation for the industrial development of blueberries and walnuts. By identifying the low-temperature mediated dormancy mechanism in blueberry flower buds, she has paved the way for improved cultivation practices. Her SSR markers are invaluable tools for breeders, enhancing the selection process for desired traits in walnuts.

As a recipient of the Academic First Class Scholarship, Academic Innovation Award, Shen Guofang Forest Cultivation Outstanding Graduate Student Award, and the National Scholarship, Dr. Zhang’s contributions have been widely acknowledged. Moving forward, she is committed to advancing molecular marker technology for DUS testing in new walnut varieties, aiming to support sustainable forestry and agricultural innovation in China

The Role and Possible Mechanism of Gibberellin (GA) in the Chilling-Mediated Blueberry Dormancy Release and Germination
Authors: Zhang, S.; Wu, X.; Feng, X.; … Song, J.; Hou, Z.
Journal: Scientia Horticulturae, 2024, 336, 113350
Possible Mechanism of Sucrose and Trehalose-6-Phosphate in Regulating the Secondary Flower on the Strong Upright Spring Shoots of Blueberry Planted in Greenhouse
Authors: Wu, H.-L.; Zhang, S.-L.; Feng, X.; … Guo, B.-S.; Hou, Z.-X.
Journal: Plants, 2024, 13(17), 2350
Characterization of the MIKCC-type MADS-box Gene Family in Blueberry and Its Possible Mechanism for Regulating Flowering in Response to the Chilling Requirement
Authors: Zhang, S.-L.; Wu, Y.; Zhang, X.-H.; … Cao, M.; Hou, Z.-X.
Journal: Planta, 2024, 259(4), 77
Development of SSR Markers for and Fingerprinting of Walnut Genetic Resources
Authors: Zhang, S.; Li, Y.; Li, Y.; … Hou, Z.; Qi, J.
Journal: Forests, 2024, 15(3), 405
Molecular Characterization of SPL Gene Family During Flower Morphogenesis and Regulation in Blueberry
Authors: Feng, X.; Zhou, B.; Wu, X.; … Su, S.; Hou, Z.
Journal: BMC Plant Biology, 2023, 23(1), 40