Major Research Areas
Wheat leaf rust and Fusarium head blight (FHB):
Identification of resistance sources
Molecular mapping and cloning of resistance genes/QTL
Use of genome editing for improving resistance
Functional characterization of genes for virulence/avirulence in pathogens (Puccinia triticina, Bipolaris sorokiniana, and Fusarium graminearum)
Understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying interactions between fungal pathogens and cereal hosts (barley, wheat, and their wild species)
Publications (*indicates the corresponding author)
113. Leng, Y., Kümmel, F., Zhao, M., Molnár, I., Doležel, J., Logemann, E., Köchner, P., Xi, P., Yang, S., Moscou, M. J., Fiedler, J. D., Du, Y., Steuernagel, B., Meinhardt, S., Steffenson, B. J., Schulze-Lefert, P., and *Zhong, S. 2025. A barley MLA immune receptor is activated by a fungal nonribosomal peptide effector for disease susceptibility. New Phytologist 245:1197-1215.
112. Klindworth, D. L., Rouse, M. N., Olivera, Jin, J., Chu., C., Friesen, T. L., Zhong, S., Faris, J. D., Fiedler, J. D., Haugrud, A., Gu, Y., Elias, E. M., Liu, S., Cai, X., Xu, S. S. 2025. Registration of four durum wheat lines carrying Sr13 alleles for resistance to stem rust. Journal of Plant Registrations 19:e20399. First published Online: 03 December 2024.
111. Poursafar, A., Leng, Y., and *Zhong, S. 2025. Development of a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout method for functional genomics of the barley spot blotch pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. PhytoFrontiers 4:682-689. First published Online:16 Sep 2024.
110. Cai, X., Danilova, T., Charif, A., Wang, F., Zhang, W., Zhang, M., Ren, S., Zhu, X., Zhong, S., Dykes, L., Fiedler, J., Xu, S., Frels, K., Wegulo, S., Boehm, J., Funnell-Harris, D. 2024. Registration of WGC002 spring wheat containing wild grass-derived Fusarium head blight resistance gene Fhb7The2. Journal of Plant Registrations 18:179–186. First published online: 05 January 2024.
109. Leng, Y., Du, Y., Fiedler, J., Haridas, S., Grigoriev, I. V., and *Zhong, S. 2024. A telomere-to-telomere genome assembly resource of Bipolaris sorokiniana, the fungal pathogen causing spot blotch and common root rot diseases in barley and wheat. PhytoFrontiers 4:247-250. First published online:17 January 2024.
108. Wang, R., Axtman, J., Leng, Y., Salsman, E., Hegstad, J., Fiedler, J., Xu, S., Zhong, S., Elias, E., and Li, X. 2024. Recurrent selection for Fusarium head blight resistance in a durum wheat population. Crop Science 64:617-630. First published online: 30 December 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21179.
107. Poudel, B., Mullins, J., Fiedler, J., *Zhong, S. 2024. Genome-wide association study of fungicide sensitivity in a Fusarium graminearum population collected from North Dakota. Phytopathology 114:1088-1096. First published online: 11 December 2023. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-23-0180-KC. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38079375.
106. Jiang, H., Qi, X., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., and Rao, J. 2023. Effect of treatment of Fusarium Head Blight infected barley grains with hop essential oil nanoemulsion on the quality and safety of malted barley. Food Chemistry 421:136172.
105. Qi, X., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., and Rao, J. 2023. Mechanisms of antifungal and mycotoxin inhibitory properties of Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil and their major chemical constituents in emulsion-based delivery system. Industrial Crops and Products 197:116575.
104. Karmacharya, A., Li, D., Leng, Y., Shi, G., Liu, Z., Yang, S., Du, Y., Dai, W., and *Zhong, S. 2023. Targeting disease susceptibility genes in wheat through wide hybridization with maize expressing Cas9 and guide RNA. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 36 (9):554-557.
103. Lv, G., Zhang, Y., Ma, L., Yan, X., Yuan, M., Chen, J., Cheng, Y., Yang, X., Qiao, Q., Zhang, L., Niaz, M., Sun, X., Zhang, Q., Zhong, S., Chen Feng. 2023. A cell wall invertase modulates resistance to Fusarium crown rot and sharp eyespot in common wheat. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 65(7):1814-1825.
102. Green, A., Mergoum, M., Frohberg, R., Underdahl, J. L., Walz, A., Selland, Thor., Miranda, A. Luis., Simsek, S., Otteson, B. N., Heilman, A. M., Murillo, D., Friskop, A., Rickertsen, J. R., Ostlie, M. H., Schatz, B. G., Hanson, B. K., Mehlhoff, R., Eriksmoen, Eric., Martin, G. B., Fiedler, J., Rasmussen, J. B., Zhong, S., Liu, Z., Friesen, T. L., Rouse, M., Jin, Y., Dill-Macky, R., Curland, R., Gill, U. 2023. Registration of ND Frohberg hard red spring wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations 17:385–396.
101. Manan, F., Shi, G., Gong, H., Hou, H., Khan, H., Leng, Y., Castell-Miller, C., Ali, S., Faris, J. D., Zhong, S., Steffenson, B., and Liu, Z. 2023. Prevalence and importance of the necrotrophic effector gene ToxA in Bipolaris sorokiniana populations collected from spring wheat and barley. Plant Dis. 107(8):2424-2430.
100. Zhang, W., Danilova, T., Zhang, M., Ren, S., Zhu, X., Zhang, Q., Zhong, S., Dykes, L., Fiedler, J., Xu, S., Frels, K., Wegulo, S., Boehm, J., and Cai, X. 2022. Cytogenetic and genomic characterization of a novel tall wheatgrass-derived Fhb7 allele integrated into wheat B genome. Theor. Applied. Genet. 135:4409–4419.
99. Jiang, H., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., Rao, J. 2022. Antifungal activity, mycotoxin inhibitory efficacy, and mode of action of hop essential oil nanoemulsion against Fusarium graminearum. Food Chemistry. 400:134016.
98. Jiang, H., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., Rao, J. 2022. Chemical composition of essential oils from leaf and bud of clove and their impact on the antifungal and mycotoxin inhibitory activities of clove oil-in-water nanoemulsions. Industrial Crops and Products 187:115479.
97. Green, A., Mergoum, M., Frohberg, R., Underdahl, J. L., Horsley, R. D., Walz, A., Simsek, S., Otteson, B. N., Heilman, A. M., Friskop, A., Ransom, J., Rickertsen, J. R., Ostlie, M. H., Schatz, B. G., Hanson, B. K., Eriksmoen, E., Pradhan, G., Martin, G. B., Rasmussen, J. B., Zhong, S., Friesen, T. L., Rouse, M., Jin, Y., Chao, S., Acevedo, M. 2022. Registration of ND VitPro Hard Red Spring Wheat. J. Plant Regist. 16:606–612.
96. Shi, G., Kariyawasam, G., Liu, S., Leng, Y., Zhong, S., Ali, S., Moolhuijzen, P., Moffat, C. S., Rasmussen, J. B., Friesen, T. L., Faris, J. D., Liu, Z. 2022. A conserved hypothetical gene is required but not sufficient for Ptr ToxC production in Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 35(4):336-348.
95. Zhu, X., Boehm, J. D., Zhong, S., Cai, X. 2022. Genomic compatibility and inheritance of hexaploid-derived Fusarium head blight resistance genes in durum wheat. The Plant Genome 15(2):e20183.
94. Poudel, B., Mullins, J., Puri, K.D., Leng, Y., Karmacharya A., Liu, Y., Hegstad, J., Li, X., and Zhong, S*. 2022. Molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci for Fusarium head blight resistance in the Brazilian spring wheat cultivar 'Surpresa'. Front. Plant Sci. 12:778472.
93. Shrestha, S., Poudel, R. S., *Zhong, S. 2021. Identification of fungal species associated with crown and root rots of wheat and evaluation of plant reactions to the pathogens in North Dakota. Plant Dis. 105:3564–3572
92. Khan, M. F. R., Liu, Y., Bhuiyan, M. Z. R., Lashman, D., Liu, Z., and Zhong, S. 2021. First report of Fusarium equiseti causing seedling death on sugar beet in Minnesota, USA. Plant Dis. 105:2017
91. Gill, B. K., Klindworth, D. L., Rouse, M. N., Zhang, J., Zhang, Q., Sharma, J. S., Chu, C., Long, Y., Chao, S., Olivera, P. D., Friesen, T. L., Zhong, S., Jin, J., Faris, J. D., Fiedler, J. D., Elias, E. M., Liu, S., Cai, X., Xu, S. S. 2021. Function and evolution of allelic variation of Sr13 conferring resistance to stem rust in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.). The Plant J. 106:1674-1691.
90. Kariyawasam, G. K., Wyatt, N., Shi, G., Liu, S., Yan, C., Ma, Y., Zhong, S., Rasmussen, J. B., Moolhuijzen, P., Moffat, C. S., Friesen, T. L., and Liu, Z. 2021. A genome-wide genetic linkage map and reference quality genome sequence for a new race in the wheat pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. Fungal Genet. Biol. 152:103571.
89. Yang, X., Zhong, S., Zhang, Q., Ren, Y., Sun, C., Chen, F. 2021. A loss-of-function of the dirigent gene TaDIR-B1 improves resistance to Fusarium crown rot in wheat. Plant Biotech J. 19:866-868.
88. Wit, M., Leng, Y., Du, Y., Cegiełko, M., Jabłońska, E., Wakuliński, W., *Zhong, S. 2021. Genome sequence resources for the maize pathogen Fusarium temperatum isolated in Poland. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 34:214-217.
87. Wan, J., Jin, Z., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., and Rao, J. 2020. Clove oil-in-water nanoemulsion mitigates growth of Fusarium graminearum and trichothecene mycotoxin production during the malting of Fusarium infected barley. Food Chemistry 312:312120.
86. Leng, Y., Zhao, M., Fiedler, J., Dreiseitl, A., Chao, S., Li, X., and *Zhong, S. 2020. Molecular mapping of loci conferring resistance to spot blotch and powdery mildew in barley using the genotyping by sequencing approach. Phytopathology 110:440-446.
85. Khan, M. F. R., Haque, M. E., Bloomquist, M., Bhuyian, M. Z. R., Brueggeman, R., Zhong, S., Poudel, R. S., Gross, T., Hakk, P., Leng, Y., and Liu, Y. 2020. First Report of Alternaria Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria tenuissima on Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) in Minnesota, USA. Plant Dis. 104:580.
84. Khan, M. F. R., Haque, M. E., Brueggeman, R., Zhong, S., Bhuiyan, M. Z. R., Poudel, R. S., Gross, T., Hakk, P., Liu, Y. 2019. First report of Geotrichum candidum causing postharvest rot of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L) roots in Minnesota and North Dakota. Plant Dis. 103:3179.
83. Liu, Y., Evan, S., Fiedler, J. D., Hegstad, J. B., Green, A., Mergoum, M., Zhong, S., Li, X. 2019. Genetic mapping and prediction analysis of FHB resistance in a hard red spring wheat breeding population. Front. Plant Sci. 10:1007. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01007.
82. Wu, D., Lu, J., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., Rao, J. 2019. Physical stability, antifungal and mycotoxin inhibitory activities of lecithin stabilized cinnamon oil emulsions in the presence of chitosan. Food & Function 10:2817-2827.
81. Wan, J., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., and Rao, J. 2019. Enhancement of antifungal and mycotoxin inhibitory activities of food-grade thyme oil nanoemulsions with natural emulsifiers. Food Control 106: 106709.
80. Wan, J., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., and Rao, J. 2019. Physical properties, antifungal and mycotoxin inhibitory activities of five essential oil nanoemulsions: impact of oil compositions and processing parameters. Food Chemistry 291:199-206.
79. Wang, R., Leng, Y., Zhao, M., and *Zhong, S. 2019. Fine mapping of a single dominant gene for resistance to spot blotch caused by a new pathotype of Bipolaris sorokinianan in barley. Theor. Applied. Genet. 132:41–51.
78. Szabo-Hever, A., Zhang, Q., Friesen, T. L., Zhong, S., Elias, E. M., Cai, X., Jin, Y., Chao, S., and Xu, S. S. 2018. Genetic diversity and resistance to Fusarium head blight in synthetic hexaploid wheat derived from Aegilops tauschii and diverse Triticum turgidum subspecies. Front. Plant Sci. 9:1829. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01829.
77. Leng, Y., Zhao, M., Wang, R., Steffenson, B. J., Bruggeman, R. S., and *Zhong, S. 2018. The gene conferring susceptibility to spot blotch caused by Cochliobolus sativus is located at the Mla locus in barley cultivar Bowman. Theor. Applied. Genet. 131:1531-1539.
76. Zhao, M., Leng, Y., Chao, S., Xu, S. S., and *Zhong, S. 2018. Molecular mapping of QTL for FHB resistance introgressed into durum wheat. Theor. Applied. Genet. 131:1939-195.
75. Wan, J., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., and Rao, J. 2018. Influence of oil phase composition on antifungal and mycotoxin inhibitory activity of clove oil nanoemulsions. Food & Function 9: 2872-2882.
74. Zhao, M., Wang, G., Leng, Y., Wanjugi, H., Xi, P., Grosz, M. D., Pitkin, J., Mergoum, M., and *Zhong, S. 2018. Molecular mapping of Fusarium head blight resistance in ND2710. Phytopathology 108:972-979.
73. Wu, D., Wan, J., Lu, J., Wang, X., Zhong, S., Schwarz, P., Chen, B., Rao, J. 2018. Chitosan coatings on lecithin stabilized emulsions inhibit mycotoxin production by Fusarium pathogens. Food Control 92: 276-285.
72. Ahmadpour, Castell-Miller, C., A, Javan-Nikkhah, A., Naghavi, M. R., Padasht Dehkaei, F., Leng, Y., Puri, K. D., and *Zhong, S. 2018. Population structure, genetic diversity, and sexual state of the rice brown spot pathogen Bipolaris oryzae from three Asian countries. Plant Pathology 67: 181-192.
71. Wang, R., Leng, Y., Ali, S., Wang, M., and *Zhong, S. 2017. Genome-wide association mapping of seedling resistance to three different pathotypes of Cochliobolus sativus in a USDA barley core collection. Molecular Breeding 37:44.
70. Puri, K. D., Yan, C., Leng, Y., *Zhong, S. 2016. RNA-Seq revealed differences in transcriptomes between 3ADON and 15ADON populations of Fusarium graminearum in vitro and in planta. PLoS ONE 11(10): e0163803. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0163803.
69. Wang, R., Leng, Y., Shrestha, S., and *Zhong, S. 2016. Coordinated and independent functions 1 of velvet-complex genes in fungal development and virulence of the fungal cereal pathogen Cochliobolus sativus. Fungal Biology 120:948-960.
68. Leng, Y., Wang, R., Ali, S., Zhao, M., and *Zhong, S. 2016. Sources and genetics of spot blotch resistance to a new pathotype of Cochliobolus sativus in a USDA barley core collection. Plant Disease 100:1988-1993.
67. Mergoum, M., Simsek, S., Zhong, S., Acevedo, M., Friesen, T. L., Xu, S. S., Liu, Z. 2016. ‘Elgin-ND’ Spring Wheat: A Newly Adapted Cultivar to the North-Central Plains of the United States with High Agronomic and Quality Performance. J. Plant Reg. 10:130-134.
66. Zhu, X., Zhong, S., Xu, S. S., Jyoti, J., and Cai, X. 2016. Effects of D-genome chromosomes and their A/B-genome homoeologs on Fusarium head blight resistance in durum wheat. Crop Sci. 56:1049-1058.
65. Zhu, X., Zhong, S., Chao, S., Gu, Y. Q., Kianian, S. F., Elias, E., and Cai, X. 2016. Toward a better understanding of the genomic region harboring Fusarium head blight resistance QTL Qfhs.ndsu-3AS in durum wheat. Theor. Appl. Genet. 129:31-43.
64. Wang, R., Leng, Y., and *Zhong, S. 2015. Functional characterization of the regulator gene VosA in the fungal cereal pathogen Cochliobolus sativus. Fungal Biology 119:884-900.
63. Chitrampalam, P., Qiu, C., Aldrich-Wolfe, L., Leng, Y., Zhong, S., and Nelson, J. B. 2015. Prevalence of inversion positive and inversion negative mating type (MAT) alleles and MAT heterokaryons in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in the United States. Botany 93(8): 497-505.
62. Leng, Y., and *Zhong, S. 2015. The role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling components in the fungal development, stress response and virulence of the fungal cereal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. PLoS ONE 10(5): e0128291.
61. Yu, G., Klindworth, D., Friesen, T. L., Faris, J. D., Zhong, S., Rasmussen, J. B., Xu. S. S. 2015. Development of a diagnostic co-dominant marker for stem rust resistance gene Sr47 introgressed from Aegilops speltoides into durum wheat. Theor. Appl. Genet. 128:2367-2374.
60. Yu, G., Zhang, Q., Friesen, T. L., Rouse, M. N., Jin, Y., Zhong, S., Rasmussen, J. B., Lagudah, E. S., Xu. S. S. 2015. Identification and mapping of Sr46 from Aegilops tauschii accession CIae 25 conferring resistance to race TTKSK (Ug99) of wheat stem rust pathogen. Theor. Appl. Genet. 128:431–443.
59. *Zhong, S., Ali, S., Wang, R., Leng, Y., and Garvin, D. F. 2015. Brachypodium distachyon-Cochliobolus sativus pathosystem is a new model for studying plant-fungal interactions in cereal crops. Phytopathology 105:482-489.
58. Zhang, Q., Axtman, J. E., Faris, J. D., Chao, S., Zhang, Z., Friesen, T. L., Zhong, S., Cai, X., Elias, E. M., Xu. S. S. 2014. Identification and molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci for Fusarium head blight resistance in emmer and durum wheat using a single nucleotide polymorphism-based linkage map. Mol. Breed. 34:1677–1687.
57. Zheng, Q., D. L. Klindworth, Friesen, T. L., Liu, A. F., Li, Z. S., Zhong, S., Jin, Y., and Xu, S. S. 2014. Characterization of Thinopyrum species for seedling resistance to wheat stem rust and variability in ploidy level. Crop Science 54:1-10.
56. Wang, H. X., Walla, J., Zhong, S., Dai, W. 2014. Construction of a genetic linkage map and QTL mapping for X-disease resistance in tetraploid chokecherry (Prunus virginiana L.) using SSR and AFLP markers. Molecular Breeding 34:143-157.
55. Li, M. H., Xie, X. L., Lin, X. F., Shi, J. X., Ling, F. J., Xi, P. G., *Zhong, S., and *Jiang, Z. D. 2014. Functional characterization of the gene FoOCH1 encoding a putative α-1,6-mannosyltransferase in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. Fungal Genet. Biol. 65:1-13.
54. Niu, Z., Puri, K. D., Chao, S., Jin, Y., Sun, Y., Steffenson, B. J., Maan, S. S., Xu, S. S., and *Zhong, S. 2014. Genetic analysis and molecular mapping of crown rust resistance in common wheat. Theor. Appl. Genet. 127: 609-619.
53. Mergoum, M., Simsek, S., Zhong, S., Acevedo, M., Friesen, T., L., Singh, P. K., Adhikari, T. B., Alamri, M. S., and Frohberg, R. C. 2014. ‘Velva’ Spring Wheat: An adapted cultivar to North-Central Plains of the United States with high agronomic and quality performance. J. Plant Reg. 8:32-37.
52. Ren, H. Y., Li, G., Qi, X. J., Fang, L., Wang, H. R., Wei, J. G., and *Zhong, S. 2013. Identification and characterization of Pestalotiopsis spp. causing twig blight disease of bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. & Zucc) in China. European Journal of Plant Pathology 137:451-461.
51. Li, M. H., Shi, J. X., Xie, X. L., Leng, Y., Wang, H. F., Xi, P. G., Zhou, J. N., Zhong, S., and Jiang, Z. D. 2013. Identification and application of a genetic locus associated with virulence in diagnosis of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 35:482-493.
50. Mergoum, M., Frohberg, R. C., Stack, R. W., Simsek, S., Adhikari, T. B., Rasmussen, J. W., Zhong, S., Acevedo, M., Alamri, M. S., Singh, P. K., Friesen, T., L., and Anderson, J. A. 2013. ‘Prosper’: A high-yielding hard red spring wheat cultivar adapted to the North Central Plains of the USA. J. Plant Reg. 7: 75-80.
49. Condon, B. J., Leng, Y., Wu, D., Bushley, K. E., Ohm, R. A., Otillar, R., Martin, J., Schackwitz, W., Grimwood, J., MohdZainudin, N., Xue, C., Wang, R., Tu, Z. J., Steffenson, B. J., Salamov, A., Sun, H., Lowry, S., LaButti, K., Han, J., Copeland, A., Lindquist, E., Lucas, S., Barry, K., Schmutz, J., Baker, S., Grigoriev, I. V., *Zhong, S., and *Turgeon, B. G. 2013. Comparative genome structure, secondary metabolite and effector coding capacity across Cochliobolus pathogens. PLoS Genetics 9: e1003233. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1003233.
48. Ohm, R. A., Bradshaw, R. E., Condon, B. J., Feau, N., Henrissat, B., Horwitz, B. A., Schoch, C. L., Turgeon, B. G., Aerts, A., Barry, K., Copeland, A., Dhillon, B., Glaser, F., Grimwood, J., Hesse, C., Kosti, I., LaButti, K., Lindquist, E., Lowry, S., Lucas, S., Otillar, R., Salamov, A. A., Schmutz, J., Sun, H., Ciuffetti, L., Hamelin, R. C., Kema, G., Lawrence, C., Spatafora, J., de Wit, P. J. G. M, Zhong, S., Goodwin, S. B., Grigoriev, I. V. 2012. Diverse lifestyles and strategies of plant pathogenesis encoded in the genomes of eighteen Dothideomycetes fungi. PLoS Pathogens 8: e1003037.
47. Wang, H. X., Walla, J., Zhong, S., Huang, D., Dai, W. 2012. Development and cross-species/genera transferability of microsatellite markers discovered using 454 genome sequencing in chokecherry (Prunus virginiana L.). Plant Cell Reports 31:2047-2055.
46. Gyawali, S., Neate, S. M., Adhikari, T. B., Puri, K. D., Burlakoti, R. R., *Zhong, S., 2012. Genetic structure of Cochliobolus sativus populations sampled from roots and leaves of barley and wheat in North Dakota. Journal of Phytopathology 160:637-646.
45. Puri, K. D., Saucedo, E. S., *Zhong, S. 2012. Molecular characterization of Fusarium head blight pathogens sampled from a naturally infected disease nursery used for wheat breeding programs in China. Plant Dis. 96:1280-1285.
44. Shiraishi, A., Leslie, J. F., Zhong, S., and Uchida, J. Y. 2012. AFLP, pathogenicity, and VCG analyses of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium pseudocircinatum from Acacia koa. Plant Dis. 96:1111-1117.
43. Liu, Z., Zhong, S., Edwards, M., Friesen, T. L. 2012. Virulence profile and genetic structure of a North Dakota population of Pyrenophora teres f. teres, the causal agent of net form net blotch of barley. Phytopathology 102:539-546.
42. Leng, Y., and *Zhong, S. 2012. Sfp-type 4’-phosphopantetheinyl transferase is required for lysine synthesis, tolerance to oxidative stress, and virulence in the plant pathogenic fungus Cochliobolus sativus. Mol. Plant Pathol. 13: 375-387.
41. Huhn, M. R., Elias, M. E., Ghavami, F., Kianian, S. F., Chao, S., Zhong, S., Alamri, M. S., Yahyaoui, A., and Mergoum, M. 2012. Tetraploid tunisian wheat germplasm as a new source of Fusarium head blight resistance. Crop Sci. 52:136-145.
40. Chu, C. -G., Tan, C. T., Yu, G. T., Zhong, S., Xu, S. S., and Yan, L. 2011. A novel retrotransposon inserted in the dominant Vrn-B1 allele confers spring growth habit in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.). G3 (Genes, Genomes, and Genetics) 1:637-645.
39. Chu, C. –G., Niu, Z. –X., Zhong, S., Chao, S., Friesen, T., Halley, S., Elias, E., Dong, Y., Faris, J., and Xu, S. X. 2011. Identification and molecular mapping of two QTLs with major effects for resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat. Theor. Appl. Genet. 123:1107-1119.
38. Duplessis, S., Cuomo, C., Lin, Y. -C., Aerts, A., Tisserant, E., Veneault-Fourrey, C., Joly, D., Hacquard, S., Amselem, J., Cantarel, B., Readman, C., Coutinho, P., Feau, N., Field, M., Frey, P., Gelhaye, E., Goldberg, J., Grabherr, M., Kodira, C., Kohler, A., Kues, U., Lindquist, E, Lucas, S., Mago, R., Mauceli, E., Morin, E., Murat, C., Pangilinan, J., Park, R., Pearson, M., Quesneville, H., Rouhier, N., Sakthikumar, S., Salamov, A., Schmutz, J., Selles, B., Shapiro, H., Tangay, P., Tuskan, G., Henrissat, B., Van de Peer, Y., Rouzé, P., Ellis, J., Dodds, P., Schein, J., Zhong, S., Hamelin, R., Grigoriev, I., Szabo, S., Martin, F. 2011. Obligate Biotrophy Features Unraveled by the Genomic Analysis of Rust Fungi. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 108: 9166–9171.
37. Li, M., Yang, B., Leng, Y., Chao, Chih-Ping., He, Z., Liu., J., Jiang, Z., *Zhong, S. 2011. Molecular characterization of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1 and 4 isolates from Taiwan and Southern China. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 33:168-178.
36. *Zhong, S., Yang, B., and Puri, K. D. 2011. Characterization of Puccinia psidii isolates in Hawaii using microsatellite DNA markers. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 77:178-181.
35. Leng, Y., Wu, C., Liu, Z., Friesen, T. L, Rasmussen, J. B., *Zhong, S. 2011. RNA-mediated gene silencing in the cereal fungal pathogen Cochliobolus sativus. Mol. Plant Pathol. 12:289-298.
34. Puri, K. D., and *Zhong, S. 2010. The 3ADON population of Fusarium graminearum found in North Dakota is more aggressive and produces a higher level of DON than the prevalent 15ADON population in spring wheat. Phytopathology 100:1007-1014.
33. Yu, G., Zhang, Q., Klindworth, D. L., Friesen, T. L., Knox, R., Jin, Y., Zhong, S., Cai, X., Xu, S. S. 2010. Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of wheat introgression lines carrying stem rust resistance gene Sr39. Crop Sci. 50:1393–1400.
32. Chu, C. -G., Chao, S., Friesen, T. L., Faris, J. D., Zhong, S., Xu, S. S. 2009. Identification of novel tan spot resistance QTLs using an SSR-based linkage map of tetraploid wheat. Molecular Breeding 25:327-338.
31. Zhong, S., Miller, S. P., Dykhuizen, D. E., and Dean, A. M. 2009. Transcription, translation, and the evolution of specialists and generalists. Mol. Biol. Evol. 26:2661-2678.
30. Tobias, D. J., Stack, R. W., Puri, K, D., Riveland, N., and *Zhong, S. 2009. Reactions of hard red spring wheat to common root rot under field conditions of Northern United States of America. Euphytica 167:165-172.
29. *Zhong, S., Leng, Y., Friesen, T. L., Faris, J. D., and Szabo, L. J. 2009. Development and characterization of expressed sequence tag (EST)-derived microsatellite markers for the wheat stem rust fungus, Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici. Phytopathology 99:282-289.
28. Cho, Y., Hou, S., and *Zhong, S. 2008. Analysis of expressed sequence tags from the fungal banana pathogen Mycosphaerella fijiensis. The Open Mycology J. 2:61-73.
27. Yang, B., and *Zhong, S. 2008. Fourteen microsatellite markers for the banana pathogen, Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Molecular Ecology Resources 8:910-912.
26. *Zhong, S., Yang, B., and Alfenas, A. C. 2008. Development of microsatellite markers for the guava rust pathogen, Puccinia psidii. Molecular Ecology Resources 8:348-350.
25. Sun, Y., Zhong, S., Steffenson, B. J., Friesen, T. L., and Neate, S. M. 2007. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and virulence polymorphism in Puccinia hordei. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 29:25-34.
24. *Zhong, S., and Steffenson, B. J. 2007. Molecular karyotyping and chromosome length polymorphism in Cochliobolus sativus. Mycological Research 111:78-86.
23. Uchida, J., *Zhong, S., and E. Killgore, E. 2006. First report of a rust disease on ohia caused by Puccinia psidii in Hawaii. Plant Dis. 90:524.
22. Zhong, S., Toubia-Rahme, H., Steffenson, B. J., and Smith, K. P. 2006. Molecular mapping and marker assisted selection of genes for septoria speckled leaf blotch resistance in barley. Phytopathology 96:993-999.
21. Zhong, S., Khodursky, A., Dykhuizen, D. E., and Dean, A. M. 2004. Evolutionary genomics of ecological specialization. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:11719-11724.
20. Zhong, S., and Dean, A. M. 2004. Rapid identification and mapping of insertion sequences in Escherichia coli genomes using vectorette PCR. BMC Microbiol. 4:26.
19. Zhong, S., Effertz, R., Jin, Y., Franckowiak, J. D., and Steffenson, B. J. 2003. Molecular mapping of the leaf rust resistance gene Rph6 in barley and its genetic relationships with Rph5 and Rph7. Phytopathology 93:604-609.
18. Wu, H. L., Steffenson, B. J., Li, Y., Oleson, A., E., and Zhong, S. 2003. Genetic variation for virulence and RFLP markers in Pyrenophora teres. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 25:82-90.
17. Zhong, S., Steffenson, B. J., Martinez, J. P., and Ciuffetti, L. M. 2002. A molecular genetic map and electrophoretic karyotype of the plant pathogenic fungus Cochliobolus sativus. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 15:481-492.
16. Zhong, S., and Steffenson, B. J. 2002. Identification and characterization of DNA markers associated with a locus conferring virulence on barley in the plant pathogenic fungus Cochliobolus sativus. Theor. Appl. Genet. 104:1049-1054.
15. Zhong, S., and Steffenson, B. J. 2001. Genetic and molecular characterization of mating type genes in Cochliobolus sativus. Mycologia 93: 852-863.
14. Zhong, S., and Steffenson, B. J. 2001. Virulence and molecular diversity in Cochliobolus sativus. Phytopathology 91:469-476.
13. Zhong, S., and Steffenson, B. J. 2000. A simple and sensitive silver-staining method for detecting AFLP markers in fungi. Fungal Genet. Newsl.47:101-102.
12. Zhong, S., Yao, J., Zhang, D., and Li, H. 1997. Application of DNA in situ hybridization to chromosome analysis in Triticeae. Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 30(1): 33-37. (in Chinese)
11. Zhong, S., Zhang, D., Li, H., and Yao, J. 1996. Identification of Haynaldia villosa chromosomes added to wheat using a sequential C-banding and genomic in situ hybridization. Theor. Appl. Genet. 92:116-120.
10. Li, S., Zhang, Z., Wang, B., and Zhong, S. 1995. Tagging the Pm4a gene in NILs by RAPD analysis. Acta Genetica Sinica. 22(2):103-108. (in Chinese)
9. Zhong, S., Zhang, D., Li, H., and Yao, J. 1995. In situ hybridization of biotin-labeled repetitive DNA to Secale cereale chromosomes. Acta Agronomica Sinica. 21(6):691-694. (in Chinese)
8. Zhong, S., Zhang, D., Li, H., and Yao, J. 1994. DNA in situ hybridization analysis of hybrids between Triticum aestivum and Haynaldia villosa. J. Jiangsu Agricultural College. 16(3):7-9. (in Chinese)
7. Zhong, S., Zhang, D., Yao, J., Li, S., Zhang, Z., and Wang, B. 1993. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of near-isogenic lines differing for a powdery mildew resistance gene in wheat. Jiangsu J. Agric. Sci. 9(1):51-54. (in Chinese)
6. Zhong, S., and Yao, J. 1992. C-banding in Haynaldia villosa and Triticum aestivum-H. villosa amphiploid. Hereditas (Beijing). 14(3):7-9. (in Chinese)
5. Zhong, S., and Yao, J. 1992. Identification of a wheat-rye chromosome substitution in common wheat. Acta Genetica Sinica. 19(6):523-527. (in Chinese)
4. Zhong, S., and Yao, J. 1991. Cytological identification of 1B/1R translocation in wheat. Acta Agronomica Sinica. 17(5):321-325. (in Chinese)
3. Zhong, S., Xu, J., Zhu, J., and Yao, J. 1991. Cytological analysis of translocation in common wheat with Chinese Spring double ditelosomics. Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 24(3):14-17. (in Chinese)
2. Zhong, S., Zhang, D., Zhou, N., Jiang, J., Yao, J., Leitch, A. R., and Leitch, I. J. 1991. Identification of alien chromatin and ribosomal DNA in wheat by in situ hybridization. Acta Botanica Sinica. 33(6):437-442. (in Chinese)
1. Zhong, S., Xu, J., Jiang, J., and Yao, J. 1989. Recognition of all chromosomes and chromosomal changes in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using C-banding. Chinese J. Genet. 16(4):295-302.