Chao Ma

    Dr. Ma received a BS degree in Landscape Architecture from Northeast Forestry University in China. He received Ph.D. in Ornamental Horticulture at China Agricultural University in China. After graduation Dr. Ma joined the Departments of Plant Sciences, University of California at Davis as a post-doctoral research associate where he conducted studies of regulation of flower organ abscission. In 2015, Dr. Ma took the present job as associate professor in department of ornamental horticulture at China Agricultural University in China. Since then, His studies focus on: 1) molecular regulatory mechanisms of flowering in plants of the composite family; 2) molecular regulatory mechanisms and genetic manipulation of flower abscission, especially in rose. 

Associate editor of  Ornamental Plant Research

Associate editor of  Horticulturae

Review editor of Frontiers in Plant Science

1. Molecular regulatory mechanisms and genetic manipulation of flower abscission, especially in rose.

2. Molecular regulatory mechanisms of flowering in plants of the composite family. 

First author or corresponding author：

1.       Jiayi Luo*, Chang Luo*, Mingzheng Han*, Qinrui Wang, Zhenzhen Song, Haixia Zhang, Qiang Gao, Tao Lin, Conglin Huang, Yafei Zhao, Chao Ma. 2025, A natural variation of flavone synthase II gene enhances flavone accumulation and confers drought adaptation in chrysanthemum. New Phytologist, DOI:10.1111/nph.70255. 

2.       Chang Luo*, Jiayi Luo*, Mingzheng Han*, Zhenzhen Song, Yahui Sun, Yafei Zhao, Conglin Huang, Junping Gao, Bo Hong, Chao Ma^#. 2025, Identification and knockout of rhamnose synthase RHM1 enhances accumulation of flavone aglycones in chrysanthemum flower. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 23: 1002-1004. 

3.       Xuekai Gao*, Lei Liu*, Tianle Wang*, Chuyan Jiang, Yujin Xue, Yahui Sun, Zhaoyu Gu, Yanjie Xu, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Junping Gao, Bo Hong, Chao Ma^#. 2025, Aging-dependent Temporal Regulation of MIR156 Epigenetic Silencing by CiLDL1 and CiNF-YB8 in Chrysanthemum. New Phytologist, 245: 2309-2321. 

4.       Xuening Liu, Mingzheng Han, Tianhua Jiang, Lei Liu, Jiayi Luo, Ying Lu, Yafei Zhao, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Junping Gao, Bo Hong, Chao Ma^#. 2024, AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 senses continuous inductive photoperiod in the inflorescence meristem to promote anthesis in chrysanthemum. Plant Cell, 36: 4658-4671. 

5.       Lei Liu, Yujin Xue, Jiayi Lou, Mingzheng Han, Xuening Liu, Tianhua Jiang, Yafei Zhao, Yanjie Xu, Chao Ma^#. 2023, Developing a UV-visible reporter-assisted CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system to alter flowering time in Chrysanthemum indicum. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 21: 1519-1921. 

6.       Chuyan Jiang, Yue Liang, Shuning Deng, Yang Liu, Haohao Zhao, Susu Li, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Junping Gao, Chao Ma^#. 2023, The RhLOL1–RhILR3 module mediates cytokinin-induced petal abscission in rose. New Phytologist, 237: 483-496.  

7.       Chang Luo, Lei Liu, Jian Zhao, Yanjie Xu, Hua Liu, Dongliang Chen, Xi Cheng, Junping Gao, Bo Hong, Conglin Huang^#, Chao Ma^#. 2023, CmHY5 functions in apigenin biosynthesis by regulating Flavone synthase II expression in chrysanthemum flowers. Planta, 257:7. 

8.       Lili Zhang*, Yanjie Xu*, Xuening Liu, Meizhu Qin, Shenglan Li, Tianhua Jiang, Yingjie Yang, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Junping Gao, Bo Hong^#, Chao Ma^#. 2022, The chrysanthemum DEAD-box RNA helicase CmRH56 regulates rhizome outgrowth in response to drought stress. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73(16):5671-5681. 

9.       Chao Ma, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Junping Gao. 2021, Regulatory mechanisms underlying activation of organ abscission. Annual Plant Reviews online, 4:27-56. 

10.    Yue Liang, Chuyan Jiang, Yang Liu, Yuerong Gao, Jingyun Lu, Palinuer Aiwaili, Zhangjun Fei, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Bo Hong, Chao Ma^#, Junping Gao^#. 2020, Auxin regulates sucrose transport to repress petal abscission in rose (Rosa hybrida). Plant Cell, 32:3485-3499. 

11.    Jingyun Lu*, Yanjie Xu*, Youwei Fan, Yaru Wang, Guifang Zhang, Yue Liang, Chuyan Jiang, Bo Hong, Junping Gao, Chao Ma^#. 2019, Proteome and ubiquitome changes during rose petal senescence. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20:6108. 

12.    Yuerong Gao*, Yang Liu*, Yue Liang, Jingyun Lu, Chuyan Jiang, Zhangjun Fei, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Chao Ma^#, Junping Gao^#. 2019, Rosa hybrida RhERF1 and RhERF4 mediate ethylene and auxin-regulated petal abscission by influencing pectin degradation. Plant Journal, 99:1159-1171. 

13.    Qian Wei*, Chao Ma*, Yanjie Xu, Tianle Wang, Yiyu Chen, Jing Lü, Lili Zhang, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Bo Hong^#, Junping Gao^#. 2017, Control of chrysanthemum flowering through integration with an aging pathway. Nature Communications, 8:829. 

14.    Lin Wu*, Nan Ma*, Yangchao Jia, Yi Zhang, Ming Feng, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Chao Ma^#, Junping Gao^#. 2017, An ethylene-induced regulatory module delays flower senescence by regulating cytokinin content. Plant Physiology, 173:853-862. 

15.    Chao Ma, Shimon Meir, Langtao Xiao, Jianhua Tong, Qing Liu, Michael S. Reid^#, Cai-Zhong Jiang^#. 2015, A KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX protein, KD1, regulates abscission in tomato by modulating the auxin pathway. Plant Physiology, 167:844-853. 

17.    Chao Ma*, Hong Wang*, Andrew J. Macnish, Alejandro C. Estrada-Melo, Jin Lin, Youhong Chang, Michael S. Reid, Cai-Zhong Jiang. 2015, Transcriptomic analysis reveals numerous diverse protein kinases and transcription factors involved in desiccation tolerance in the resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia. Horticulture Research, 2:15034. 

Others：

1.       Tianhua Jiang*, Yahui Sun*, Yao Wang, Jiayi Luo, Lei Liu, Hanqin Chen, Yiwei Xue, Lili Wang, Kang Gao, Dongliang Chen, Chao Ma, Conglin Huang^#, Chang Luo^#. 2025, CmVNI2-CmMYB3 module regulates flavonol biosynthesis in response to low temperature in chrysanthemum flower. Molecular Horticulture, Accepted

2.       Jingyun Lu*, Guifang zhang*, Chao Ma, Yao Li, Chuyan Jiang, Yaru Wang, Bingjie Zhang, Rui Wang, Yuexuan Qiu, Yanxing Ma, Yangchao Jia, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Xiaoming Sun, Nan Ma, Yunhe Jiang^#, Junping Gao^#. 2024, The F-box protein RhSAF destabilizes the gibberellic acid receptor RhGID1 to mediate ethylene-induced petal senescence in rose. Plant Cell, 36(5):1736-1754. 

3.       Jing Lyu*, Palinuer Aiwaili*, Zhaoyu Gu, Yanjie Xu, Yunhan Zhang, Zhiling Wang, Hongfeng Huang, Ruihong Zeng, Chao Ma, Junping Gao, Xin Zhao^#, Bo Hong^#. 2022, Chrysanthemum MAF2 regulates flowering by repressing gibberellin biosynthesis in response to low temperature. Plant Journal, 112(5):1159-1175. 

4.       Chuyan Jiang*, Tianhua Jiang*, Shuning Deng, Chaoli Yuan, Yue Liang, Susu Li, Chao Ma, Yuerong Gao. 2022, Integrative analysis of transcriptome, proteome, and ubiquitome changes during rose petal abscission. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13:1041141. 

5.       Tianle Wang, Qian Wei, Zhiling Wang, Wenwen Liu, Xin Zhao, Chao Ma, Junping Gao, Yanjie Xu^#, Bo Hong^#. 2022, CmNF-YB8 affects drought resistance in chrysanthemum by altering stomatal status and leaf cuticle thickness. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 64:741-755.

6.    Srivignesh Sundaresan, Sonia Philosoph-Hadas, Chao Ma, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Joseph Riov, Betina Kochanek, Shoshana Salim, Michael S. Reid, Shimon Meir^#. 2021, Role of the KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX protein (KD1) in regulating abscission of tomato flower pedicels at early and late stages of the process. Physiologia Plantarum, 173:2103-2118.  

7.     Xiufen Dong, Chao Ma, Tao Xu, Michael S. Reid^#, Cai-Zhong Jiang^#, Tianlai Li^#. 2021, Auxin response and transport during induction of pedicel abscission in tomato. Horticulture Research, 8:192. 

8.       Yi Zhang*, Zhicheng Wu*, Ming Feng, Jiwei Chen, Meizhu Qin, Wenran Wang, Ying Bao, Qian Xu, Ying Ye, Chao Ma, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Su-Sheng Gan, Hougao Zhou, Youming Cai, Bo Hong, Junping Gao, Nan Ma. 2021, The circadian-controlled PIF8-BBX28 module regulates petal senescence in rose flowers by governing mitochondrial ROS homeostasis at night. Plant Cell, 33:2716-2735. 

9.       Yanjie Xu*, Xin Zhao*, Palinuer Aiwaili, Xianying Mu, Meng Zhao, Jian Zhao, Lina Cheng, Chao Ma, Junping Gao, Bo Hong^#. 2020, A zinc finger protein BBX19 interacts with ABF3 to negatively affect drought tolerance in chrysanthemum. Plant Journal, 103:1783-1795.  

10.   Allah Jurio Khaskheli*, Waqas Ahmed*, Chao Ma, Shuai Zhang, Yanyan Liu, Yuqi Li, Xiaofeng Zhou^#, Junping Gao. 2018, RhERF113 functions in ethylene-induced petal senescence by modulating cytokinin content in Rose. Plant & Cell Physiology, 59:2442-2451. 

11.    Nan Ma, Chao Ma, Yang Liu, Muhammad Shahid, Chengpeng Wang, Junping Gao. 2018, Petal Senescence: a hormone view. Journal of Experimental Botany, 69:719-732. 

12.    Srivignesh Sundaresan, Sonia Philosoph-Hadas, Chao Ma, Cai-Zhong Jiang, Joseph Riov, Raja Mugasimangalam, Betina Kochanek, Shoshana Salim, and Michael Reid Shimon Meir. 2018, The tomato hybrid proline-rich protein regulates the abscission zone competence to respond to ethylene signals. Horticulture research, 5:28. 

13.    Alejandro C. Estrada-Melo, Chao Ma, Michael S. Reid, Cai-Zhong Jiang. 2015, Overexpression of an ABA biosynthesis gene using a stress-inducible promoter enhances drought resistance in petunia. Horticulture Research, 2:15013.  

14.    Yingjie Yang, Chao Ma, Yanjie Xu, Qian Wei, Muhammad Imtiaz, Haibo Lan, Shan Gao, Lina Cheng, Meiyan Wang, Zhangjun Fei, Bo Hong, Junping Gao. 2014, A zinc finger protein regulates flowering time and abiotic stress tolerance in chrysanthemum by modulating gibberellin biosynthesis. Plant Cell, 26:2038-2054.  

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