Xinni Jiang

Ms. Xinni Jiang


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 May 2025 in Plants
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
XJXinni Jiang
Xinni Jiang
JMJie Miao
Jie Miao
WZWeifan Zu
Weifan Zu
RZRuohan Zhou
Ruohan Zhou
LZLexin Zheng
Lexin Zheng
XNXiaoping Niu
Xiaoping Niu
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), a tropical crop of significant economic value, exhibits temperature-sensitive floral development. Here, we identified 23 TALE transcription factors (PeTALEs) and characterized their roles in floral organogenesis and thermal adaptation. Phylogenetic analysis classified PeTALEs into KNOX and BELL subfamilies, with conserved domain architectures and cis-regulatory elements linked to stress and hormone signaling. Spatiotemporal expression profiling revealed PeTALE21 as a key regulator of corona initiation, while PeTALE17 dominated in later floral stages. Temperature stress assays demonstrated cold-induced upregulation of PeTALE15/16/19/22 and heat-mediated suppression of PeTALE10/18/21. Yeast two-hybrid assays uncovered functional interactions between PeTALE3/16/18/22/23, highlighting a network governing floral thermoresilience. This study provides the first genome-wide analysis of PeTALEs, offering insights for breeding climate-resilient passion fruit varieties.

6 September 2026 in Agronomy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MGMengji Ge
Mengji Ge
XJXinni Jiang
Xinni Jiang
QLQiuyu Lu
Qiuyu Lu
YFYixun Feng
Yixun Feng
YSYan Su
Yan Su
XNXiaoping Niu
Xiaoping Niu
UDP-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are a large and diverse enzyme family involved in the modification and diversification of plant secondary metabolites, including flavonoids associated with fruit nutritional value and quality traits. However, the evolutionary organization of UGT families and their associations with flavonoid metabolism remain insufficiently characterized in tropical monocot fruit crops. Here, we performed a genome-wide characterization of the UGT family in pineapple (Ananas comosus) and integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic information to prioritize AcUGT candidates associated with flavonoid accumulation. A total of 68 AcUGT genes were identified and classified into 16 phylogenetic clades. Comparative genomic analyses demonstrated conserved syntenic relationships with other monocots, while tandem and segmental duplication contributed to AcUGT family expansion under predominant purifying selection. Structural analyses revealed conservation of the C-terminal plant secondary product glycosyltransferase (PSPG) motif involved in UDP-sugar recognition, whereas N-terminal sequence diversification distinguished AcUGT members. Promoter analysis identified cis-regulatory elements associated with hormone, developmental, environmental, and secondary metabolism responses. Integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic datasets revealed stage- and cultivar-associated AcUGT expression patterns that were statistically associated with flavonoid profiles. Candidate prioritization based on phylogeny, developmental or cultivar specificity and transcript–metabolite associations highlighted AcUGT29, AcUGT02, and AcUGT51 as high-priority candidates for future functional investigation. This study provides a genomic and metabolic framework for investigating UGT-associated flavonoid diversification and for guiding subsequent functional and fruit-quality studies in pineapple.