Department of Biology
Hong Li Wang
Hong Li Wang
Associate Professor
(501) 569-8983
(501) 569-3271 (fax)
hxwang@ualr.edu

Ph.D. (Plant Physiology, Cell Biology) 1994
University of Newcastle, Australia
B.S. (Biology) 1983 Xinjiang University, China

Research Interests
Plant physiology, Carbon Transport and Partitioning Control
Plant Cell and Molecular Biology
Plant Development and Nutrition
Plant Virology
Genomics, Plant Biotechnology

Improvement of crop yield and nutritional quality has always been the ultimate research goals for many biologists, in order to increase the quality and quantity of the world's food supply. Improved crop plants with high yield and quality will need to possess the following attributes: (1) have extraordinary capacity of assimilation (i.e. photosynthesis, mineral element absorption and nitrogen fixation); (2) preferentially transport and accumulate assimilates to economically significant organs; (3) should be highly capable of adapting their structure and developmental processes in response to environmental stresses; and (4) be highly resistant to diseases (viruses, bacteria and fungi) and insects. Therefore, we need to understand the physiological, cellular and molecular bases for these processes, especially the underlying controlling and regulatory mechanisms over these processes and pathways. Then, we need to comprehenseively integrate our understanding over different disciplines to provide novel and sufficient insights for the manipulation of genes, the breeding of ideal crops, the optimization of cropping systems, and for the improvement of agricultural management.

The phloem translocation system, which plays a central role in plant development and growth, transports assimilates, nutrients, signals and viruses between different organs. Phloem translocation includes phloem loading in the source region, long-distance phloem transport and phloem unloading in the sink tissues. It is one of the primary systems and processes involved in determination of a crop's yield and quality.

Modern agricultural practices have shown that the improvement of crop yields has been associated, not with an increase in total biomass production, but with a greater partitioning of the available carbon to the organs being harvested. The translocation of assimilates via phloem plays a central role in regulating the partitioning of photoassimilates between competing sinks, and in determining crop yield and plant productivity.

Plants provide almost all essential mineral and organic nutrients to humans. Improvement of nutrient content and composition in plants (nutritional quality) has become one of the significant objectives of modern agriculture. Plant mineral nutrients (N, S, P, Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, B, Cl, Zn, Cu, Mo, Ni) are acquired by root systems and then translocated to shoot tissues especially into the leaves along with the water stream via the xylem system. From there, nutients will be redistuibuted into sink organs such as shoot apices, newly emerged leaves, developing flowers and seeds through phloem translocation systems. Understanding the regulatory mechanism(s) and molecular components involved in long-distance micronutrient phloem translocation will provide foundations for improvement of crop nutritional quality and plant nutrient efficiency.

As global temerature increases, it may enhance the survival of pests through winter. As a consequence, pest-transmitted plant virus diseases become more severe, being a significant constraint to modern agriculture. Insect-transmitted plant virus systemic infection includes the following steps: (1) insect acquisition of viruses from infected plants and transmission into new plants; (2) virus replication in invaded plant cells; (3) cell-to-cell movement of viruses, and (4) virus entry into, transport in, and egress from the phloem translocation of virus gerate strong plant resistance to virus diseases.

However, although individual biochemical and physiological processes have been extensively studied, the factors and their dynamic interactions primarily responsible for the control of phloem translocation in plants have not been well understood. Therefore, my primary research goal is, through combined multidisciplinary approaches, to seek the understanding on key biochemical processes, cellular pathways, regulations, interactions and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in phloem translocation of assimilates, nutrients, vireses and signals in economically significant plants. Ultimately, we want to provide novel insights for control of carbon partitioning, nutrient redistribution, and for the restriction of virus systemic infection in higher plants.

Courses Taught BIOL 1401 General Biology
BIOL 4419/5419 Plant Physiology
BIOL 4499/5599 Plant and Human Nutrition
Teaching Philosophy "The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and his lovingness. If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind."
From "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran

To accomplish great things, one must not only act, but also to dream; not only plan, but also to believe. Thus, the principles of my teaching philosophy are that I will not only teach students the knowledge and skills, but also motivate their visions of future, trigger their inner eagerness to learn, and train them to be capable for self-study and to be creative. Today's world is characterized by rapid and continuous change, such as in sciences, technologies and information. Our teaching should include two components: (A) teach the basic knowledge and skills of a given subject; and (B) teach students how to learn knowledge and skills, how to seek and make new tools, and how to approach new subjects and new goals.

Teaching Strategies
For junior courses I am going to: (1) organize the course, stimulate and encourage students to take more active interaction and involvement in the classroom; (2) prepare lecture notes for students, provide them with a comprehensive outline and clear definitions of concepts and principles of the course. This will help students focus their attention on lectures in the classroom; (3) apply modern computer technology to present the subject, make each session a valuable experience for students, and arouse their enthusiasm for further pursuit of knowledge in the subject; (4) designate adequate textbooks and materials for students to read, which could lead them to different levels of the subject; (5) assign reasonable quantity written or laboratory exercises to students, help them to learn, and to develop a mature and wholesome interest in the field covered by the course.

Senior courses (year 3 and above)
In addition to the basic lines described above, I will also manage the course through which students can apply the knowledge and skills they learned in the classroom, and learn how to present their understanding in scientific fashion: First, I will list interesting topics from the subject and divide students into small groups (4-6 students in each group) based on their own interests. Each group will select a topic as its research or practice project. Students will learn how to search for information about their project from data bases and design their experiments. Second, we will hold a seminar session for students to discuss their experimental designs in class, to improve and polish their thoughts. Third, each research group will then spend some time to complete their proposed experiments and collect data. They will then learn and practice how to analyze and present data. By the end of the course, I will help students organize a small colloquium, in which they will give oral presentations, ask and answer questions. With these practices, students will not only learn the basic knowledge and skills of the given subject, they will also gain deeper understanding of scientific approaches, a sense of cooperation, and skills of communication. Students will be more capable of active study and active research in their future. I will also develop research projects in which undergraduates can be involved and trained.

Publications I. Peer reviewed publications:
  1. H. L. Wang and M. A. Grusak (2005) Structure and development of Medicago truncatula pod walls and seed coats. Annals of Botany 95, 737-747.
  2. H. L. Wang (2004) Transfer cells in economically important crop plants: Structure, function and molecular mechanisms. Bulletin of Biochemistry and Biotechnology 17, 1-13.
  3. H. L Wang, M.R. Sudarshana, R. L. Gilbertson and W. J. Lucas. (1999) Analysis of cell-to-cell and long distance movement of bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus-green fluorescent protein reporter in hosts and non-hosts species: Identification of sites of resistance. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 12, 345-355.
  4. Beatriz Xoconostle., Yu Xiang., Roberto M Ruiz-Medrano., Hong Li Wang., Jan Monzer., Byung-Chun Yoo., K. C. MaFarland, Vincent R. Franceschi., William J. Lucas. (1999) Plant paralog to viral movement protein that potentiates transport of mRNA into the phloem. Science 283, 94-98.
  5. M. R. Sudarshana., H. L. Wang., W. J. Lucas., and R. L. Gilbertson. (1998) Dynamics of bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus cell-to-cell and long-distance movement in Phaseolus vulgaris revealed, using the green fluorescent protein. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 11, 277-291.
  6. H. L. Wang., Y. Wang., D. Giesmen-Cookmeyer., S. A. Lommel., and W. J. Lucas. (1998) Mutation in viral movement protein alter systemic infection and identify an intercellular barrier to entry into the phloem long-distance transport system. Virology 245, 75-89.
  7. E. Almon., M. Horowitz., H. L. Wang., W. J. Lucas., E. Zamski and S. Wolf. (1997) Phloem-specific expression of TMV-MP alters carbon metabolism and partitioning in transgenic potato plants. Plant Physiology 115, 1599-1607.
  8. H. L. Wang., R. L. Gilbertson, and W. J. Lucas. (1996). Spatial and temporal distribution of bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus in Phaseolus vulgaris and Nicotiana benthamiana. Phytopathology, 86, 1204-1214.
  9. C. R. McDonald., H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler. and J. W. Patrick. (1995). Cellular pathway of sucrose transport in the developing cotyledons of Vicia faba L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L.: a physiological assessment. Planta, 196, 659-667.
  10. H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler. and J. W. Patrick. (1995a) Cellular pathway of photosynthate transfer in the developing wheat grain. II. A structural analysis and histochemical studies of the transfer pathway from the crease phloem to the endosperm cavity. Plant, Cell and Environment, 18, 373-388.
  11. H. L. Wang., J. W. Patrick. and C. E. Offler. (1995b) Cellular pathway of photosynthate transfer in the developing wheat grain. III. A structural analysis and physiological studies of transfer from the endosperm cavity to the endosperm. Plant, Cell and Environment, 18, 389-407.
  12. H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler., J. W. Patrick. and T. D. Ugalde. (1994a) Cellular pathway of photosynthate transfer in the developing wheat grain. I. Delineation of the potential transfer pathway using fluorescent dyes. Plant, Cell and Environment, 17, 257-266.
  13. H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler. and J. W. Patrick. (1994b) Nucellar projection transfer cell in the developing wheat grain. Protoplasma, 182, 39-52.
  14. H. L. Wang., J. W. Patrick., C. E. Offler. and I. F. Wardlaw. (1993) A novel experimental system for studies of photosynthate transfer in the developing wheat grain. Journal of Experimental Botany, 44, 1177 - 1184.
II. Book Chapters
  1. Patrick., C. E. Offler., H. L. Wang., X. D. Wang., S. P. Jin., W. C. Zhang., T. D. Ugalde., C. F. Jenner., N. Wang., D. B. Fisher., F. C. Felker., P. A. Thomas., C. G. Crawford. (1991). Assimilate transport in developing cereal grain. In "Recent Advances in Phloem Transport and Assimilate Compartmentation". pp 233 - 243. Eds J. L. Bonnemain., S. Delrot., J. Dainty., and W. J. Lucas. Ouest Publications.
  2. H. L. Wang, J. W. Patrick and C.E. Offler. (1995). Assimilate delivery pathways in the developing wheat grain and their implications for control of carbon transport. In" Carbon Partitioning and Source-Sink Interactions in Plants. Current Topics in Plant Physiology : An American Society of Plant Physiologist Series, Volume 13". pp 156 - 169. Eds M. A. Madore and W. J. Lucas. Published by American Society of Plant Physiologist.
  3. G. A. Thompson and H. L. Wang (2003). Phloem In "Encyclopedia of Applied Plant Sciences" pp 1149-1459. Edited by Brain Thomas, Denis J. Murphy and Brain A Murray. Published by Elsevier Science & Technology Books.
Conference Presentations
  1. H. L. Wang (2006). Assimilate translocation in plants: insights for improving crop’s yield and nutritional quality. Invited seminar speaker by BASF Plant Science, North Carolina, USA.
  2. H. L. Wang (2006) Signal and assimilate phloem translocation: understand the controlling mechanisms of nutrient supply and seed development in the economically important crops. The Second International Symposium on Plant Neurobiology, Beijing, China.
  3. Sharma Alka and H. L. Wang (2006). Spatial and temporal analysis of nutritional components in the developing pods and seeds of Medicago truncatula. American Society of Plant Physiologists, 2006 Annual General Meeting. Boston, USA.
  4. H. L. Wang (2006) Cellular structures, developmental processes and nutrition accumulation in the pods and seeds of Medicago truncatula. American Society of Plant Physiologists, 2006 Annual General Meeting. Boston, USA.
  5. H. L. Wang and Hongshen Li (2006). Proteomic analysis of wheat transfer cells. American Society of Plant Physiologists, 2006 Annual General Meeting. Boston, USA
  6. H. L. Wang (2004) Transfer cells in economically important crop plants: structure, function and molecular mechanisms. 101st Annual Meeting of The Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 14-16, February, 2004
  7. Grusak and H. L. Wang. (2004) Status of Medicago truncatula as a model for seed and pod development in legumes. International conference”Legumes in Agriculture and the Impact of Genomics” in Palais des Congres, France, 7-11 June, 2004
  8. H. L. Wang and M Beggs (2004) Molecular and genomic analyses on transfer-cell development and function in the economically important plants. American Society of Plant Physiologists, 2004 Annual General Meeting. Lake Buena, Florida, USA M.A.
  9. H. L. Wang and M. A. Grusak (2003) Identification and characterization of transfer cells in Medicago truncatula plants. 2003 Gordon Research Conferences on Plant Cell Walls, Kimball Union Academy, NH, USA.
  10. H. L. Wang., M. A. Grusak (2001) Identification of transfer cells in the minor veins of Medicago truncatula leaves. 4th Workshop on Medicago truncatula, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  11. H. L. Wang., M. A. Grusak (2001) Morphological characterization of developing Medicago truncatula seeds and pod walls. 4th Workshop on Medicago truncatula, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  12. H. L. Wang (2001) Assimilate transport in wheat plants: Insights for improvement of crop yield. 85th Annual Meeting of Arkansas Academy of Science, Conway, Arkansas, USA.
  13. H. L. Wang., B. W. Stephens, M. A. Grusak. (2000) Identification of metal-chelating proteins and peptides in the phloem translocation pathway. 10th International Symposium on Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants, Houston, Texas, USA.
  14. M. A. Grusak, H. L. Wang, B. W. Stephens. (1999) Deciphering plant iron homeostasis using unique iron-hyperaccumulating pea mutants. American Society of Plant Physiologists, 1999 Annual General Meeting. Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  15. H. L. Wang., B. W. Stephens, M. A. Grusak. (1999) Identification of proteins and peptides involved in the phloem translocation of metal micronutrients. H. L. Wang was invited to give an oral presentation of this work in the International Conference on Assimilate Transport and Partitioning 1999, Newcastle, Australia.
  16. H. L Wang, M.R. Sudarshana, R. L. Gilbertson and W. J. Lucas. (1998) Effects of host factors on infection of GFP-tagged bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus in both host and non-host plants. American Society of Plant Physiologists, 1998 Annual General Meeting. Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  17. M. R. Sudarshana., H. L. Wang., W. J. Lucas., and R. L. Gilbertson. (1998) Localization of the BV1 and BC1 movement proteins of bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus in infected Phaseolus vulgaris plants and in tobacco protoplasts. 2nd International Workshop on Bemisia and Geminiviral Diseases. Orlando, Florida, USA.
  18. H. L Wang, M.R. Sudarshana, R. L. Gilbertson and W. J. Lucas. (1997) Probing Phloem Translocation Using Bean Dwarf Mosaic Geminivirus. The Quadrennial Joint Annual Meetings of the American Society of Plant Physiologists and the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
  19. H. L. Wang., M. R. Sudarshana., R. L. Gilbertson and W. J. Lucas. (1997). Translocation of bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus is closely associated with phloem stream and the developmental stage of host plants. Symposium of Information Processing Systems in Plants: Their Evolution & Function. University of California, Davis, California, USA.
  20. M. R. Sudarshana., H. L. Wang., Y. M. Hou., A. O. Noueiry., W. J. Lucas and R. L. Gilbertson. (1996). Expression of green fluorescent protein by a coat protein deficient DNA A component of bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus. Annual Meeting of the American phytopathological Society, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
  21. H. L. Wang., R. L. Gilbertson, and W. J. Lucas. (1996). Plant infection domains of bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus in Phaseolus vulgaris and Nicotiana benthamiana. Third international workshop on basic and applied research in plasmodesmata biology, Zichron-Yakov, Israel.
  22. H. L. Wang., R. L. Gilbertson, and W. J. Lucas. (1995). Infection domains of bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus in Phaseolus vulgaris and Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Biology and molecular epidemiology of geminiviruses conference, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
  23. H. L. Wang, J. W. Patrick and C. E. Offler. (1995). Assimilate delivery pathways in the developing wheat grain and their implications for control of carbon transport. The Seventeenth Annual Symposia in Plant Physiology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA.
  24. H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler., and J. W. Patrick. (1994) The cellular pathway of photosynthate transfer in the developing wheat grain. Australian Society of Plant Physiologists, 34th Annual General Meeting, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.
  25. H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler., and J. W. Patrick. (1994) The cellular pathway of photosynthate transfer in the developing wheat grain. American Society of Plant Physiologists, 1994 Annual General Meeting. Portland, Oregon, USA.
  26. H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler. and J. W. Patrick. (1992) A structural analysis and histochemical studies of the cellular pathway of photosynthate unloading in the developing wheat grain. Australian Society of Plant Physiologists, 32nd Annual General Meeting. La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.
  27. H. L. Wang., J. W. Patrick. and C. E. Offler. (1991) A novel experimental system for studies of photosynthate transfer in the developing wheat grain. Australian Society of Plant Physiologists, 31st Annual General Meeting, Canberra, Australia.
  28. C. E. Offler., H. L. Wang. and J. W. Patrick. (1990) The cellular pathway of photosynthate transfer in the developing wheat grain. The Proceeding of the International Conference on Phloem Transport and Assimilate Compartmentation. Cognac, France.
  29. C. E. Offler., H. L. Wang. and J. W. Patrick. (1990) The cellular pathway of photosynthate accumulation in the developing wheat grain. Carbon Economy of Fruits Workshop, Bonn, West Germany.
  30. C. E. Offler., H. L. Wang. and J. W. Patrick. (1990) The cellular pathway of assimilate transfer in the developing wheat grain. The Proceeding of the 7th Congress of the Federation of European Societies of Plant Physiology, Umea, Sweden.
  31. H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler. and J. W. Patrick. (1990) The cellular pathway of assimilate accumulation in the developing wheat grain. Australian Society of Plant Physiologists, 30th Annual General Meeting, Sydney, Australia.
  32. C. R. McDonald., H. L. Wang., C. E. Offler. and J. W. Patrick. (1989). Cellular pathway of sucrose transport in the developing bean embryos. Comparative studies with Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Vicia faba L. Australian Society of Plant Physiologists, 29th Annual General Meeting, Brisbane, Australia.

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