Hunan Agricultural University | China
Zhenhua Zhang is a plant scientist specializing in plant nutrition, crop physiology, and molecular mechanisms underlying nutrient use efficiency in major crops. His research integrates physiological, molecular, and agronomic approaches to understand how plants acquire, distribute, and utilize essential nutrients—particularly nitrogen—in order to improve nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and support sustainable crop production. He completed postdoctoral research in plant genetics at the CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, where he gained experience in molecular plant–environment interactions. His doctoral work, conducted jointly at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Hunan Agricultural University, focused on crop physiology with an emphasis on rice nutrient dynamics.
Zhang’s research contributions include studies on nitrogen redistribution during late growth stages of oilseed rape and the physiological mechanisms controlling nitrogen allocation and efficiency. As Head of the Department of Plant Nutrition at Hunan Agricultural University and Principal Investigator in the Southern Grain and Oil Crop Collaborative Innovation Center, he leads projects aimed at enhancing nutrient efficiency in rice, rapeseed, and other staple crops through improved fertilization strategies and molecular breeding targets. His work is further enriched by international training and visiting scientist appointments in the United States, Europe, and IRRI, strengthening global collaboration in plant nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
Featured Publications:
Jian, S. F., Liao, Q., Liu, Q., Luo, J. S., Guan, C. Y., Zhang, Z. H.*, & others. (2019). NRT1.1 regulates nitrate allocation and cadmium tolerance in Arabidopsis. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, 384.
Liao, Q., Jian, S. F., Song, H. X., Guan, C. Y., Lepo, J. E., Ismail, A. M., Zhang, Z. H.*, & others. (2019). Balance between nitrogen use efficiency and cadmium tolerance in Brassica napus and Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Science.
Liang, G. H., Hua, Y. P., Zhou, T., Liao, Q., Song, H. X., Zhang, Z. H.*, & others. (2019). Bioinformatics analysis and response to nitrate–cadmium stress of NRT1.5 and NRT1.8 family genes in Brassica napus. Crop Science, 45(3), 365–380.
Liao, J. Y., Song, H. X., Zhao, D. S., Wang, T., Guan, C. Y., Zhang, Z. H.*, & others. (2019). Effects of controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers on soil inorganic nitrogen forms and fertilization efficiency at different growth stages of rape. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 33(1), 158–164.