Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator
Dr. Xingping Zhang
Deputy Director · Head, Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Innovation · Senior Research Professor
Email: xingping.zhang@pku-iaas.edu.cn
Dr. Xingping Zhang is an internationally recognized cucurbit geneticist and breeder whose work centres on the genetic improvement and germplasm innovation of watermelon, melon, cucumber, and winter squash. He served as Global Head of Cucurbit Breeding R&D at Syngenta Seeds and was named a Syngenta Science and Technology Fellow; he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Cucurbitaceae Symposium in 2018 and the State Council Special Allowance for Experts in 2023.
1. Personal Overview
Xingping Zhang, Ph.D., is Senior Research Professor and Deputy Director of the Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences (PKU-IAAS), where he heads the Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Innovation. An internationally recognized cucurbit breeder, he has devoted his career to the genetics and breeding of watermelon, melon, cucumber, and winter squash, and has developed varieties that have had a significant impact on the world watermelon industry.
His industry career began at Hollar Seeds (U.S.), where he served as Plant Breeder and Director of Research. He then spent fourteen years at Syngenta Seeds as Plant Scientist, Head Watermelon Breeder, and Global Head of Cucurbit Breeding R&D, and was named a Syngenta Science and Technology Fellow in 2008. After returning to China in October 2013 he joined Mingkanghui Eco-Agriculture Group (Hailiang Eco-Agriculture Research Institute Co., Ltd.) as Chief Scientist and Dean, where he worked on building an integrated fresh-produce value chain.
From January 2017 to July 2019 he was Chief Scientist and a Syngenta Science and Technology Fellow at Syngenta Biotechnology (China) Co., Ltd. in Beijing. Since August 2019 he has been with PKU-IAAS, where he leads the Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Innovation. His programme covers watermelon, melon, cucumber, winter squash, tomato, wheat, and specialty corn (mainly popcorn), and integrates mutant library construction, functional gene discovery, molecular design breeding, and accelerated breeding to develop varieties that are nutritious, good-tasting, and meet the needs of growers and consumers.
2. Education
September 1979 – July 1983, Gansu Agricultural University, B.S. in Horticulture
September 1983 – May 1991, Northwest A&F University, M.S. in Vegetable Science; later Teaching Assistant and Lecturer
May 1991 – March 1996, Clemson University (U.S.), Research Assistant, Ph.D. candidate, and Postdoctoral Fellow
3. Professional Experience
August 2019 – present, Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Senior Research Professor; Deputy Director; Head, Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Innovation
January 2017 – July 2019, Syngenta Biotechnology (China) Co., Ltd., Beijing: Chief Scientist; Syngenta Science and Technology Fellow
October 2013 – December 2016, Mingkanghui Eco-Agriculture Group (Hailiang Eco-Agriculture Research Institute Co., Ltd.): Chief Scientist; Dean
October 1999 – October 2013, Syngenta Seeds: Plant Scientist; Head Watermelon Breeder; Global Head of Cucurbit Breeding R&D; Syngenta Science and Technology Fellow
March 1996 – September 1999, Hollar Seeds (U.S.): Plant Breeder; Director of Research
July 1986 – May 1991, Northwest A&F University: Teaching Assistant; Lecturer
4. Research Interests
The Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Innovation, led by Dr. Zhang, works on watermelon, melon, cucumber, winter squash, tomato, Chinese cabbage, wheat, and corn. The programme covers precise phenotyping, construction of mutant libraries, discovery of genes underlying important traits and elucidation of their molecular and genetic mechanisms, and the development and application of novel breeding methods. By combining molecular design breeding with rapid breeding technologies, the Laboratory achieves efficient introgression and pyramiding of superior traits and develops high-quality, nutritious, and good-tasting varieties that growers like to cultivate and consumers like to eat. Specific research directions include:
1. Construction of reference genomes for cucurbit crops and discovery of functional genes controlling important traits (gene mapping, cloning, and functional validation)
2. Rapid introgression and pyramiding of superior traits
3. Development of novel breeding methods and accelerated breeding technologies
4. Creation of novel germplasm through genome editing
5. Development of elite germplasm and new varieties
5. Major Scientific and Industrial Contributions
1. Pioneered azide-herbicide-induced tetraploidy in watermelon. This method is more efficient than conventional colchicine treatment and safer for operators, and has since been cited and adopted for chromosome doubling in watermelon and other crops.
2. Led foundational work in watermelon genomics. Dr. Zhang conceived, initiated, and co-led the first whole-genome sequencing of watermelon (Nature Genetics, published online 25 November 2012; print version 2013, 45(1): 51–58); he built a genomic selection platform for major watermelon traits, including resistance to Fusarium wilt, anthracnose, powdery mildew and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), together with earliness, rind thickness and small seed size; he also led the Syngenta–North Carolina State University collaboration that produced the first watermelon bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, and directed the construction and application of a watermelon SNP marker-assisted selection platform.
3. Developed a series of benchmark varieties. These include ‘Xiong No. 8’, ‘Colorado Crimson’, the ‘Pure Heart’ series of small-fruited seedless watermelons, ‘Fascination’, ‘Crisp Delight’ (the first disease-resistant, high-yielding, high-quality, extra-firm seedless watermelon suited to fresh-cut use), ‘Manchester’, and ‘El Ghali’. He also created “super pollenizer” (enhanced pollenizer) technology and the SP series of pollenizers, which materially improved fruit set and seed-production efficiency in seedless watermelon.
4. Established core resources for watermelon functional genomics. With collaborators he completed the first telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome of watermelon and its ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-saturated mutant library (Molecular Plant, 2022, 15(8): 1268–1284); in 2024 the group released a gap-free super-pangenome covering all seven species of the genus Citrullus (Nature Genetics, 2024, 56(8): 1750–1761), which was reported by Nature as a Research Highlight.
5. Advanced reference genomes and molecular breeding tools for cucurbit crops. He completed T2T genome assemblies and mutant libraries for cucumber and Cucurbita moschata (Molecular Plant, 2025; Plant Communications, 2026), and led the development of a 40K liquid chip enriched with structural-variation markers for watermelon breeding (Horticulture Research, 2026, uhag221).
6. Advanced the development and translation of wheat haploid induction. He led Syngenta Biotechnology (China) Co., Ltd. in creating a wheat line carrying an edited centromeric histone H3 (CENH3) gene that induces haploids, and oversaw five genome-editing projects targeting disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, and quality improvement at the Syngenta Beijing Innovation Center (Nature Biotechnology, 2020, 38(12): 1397–1401).
7. Built rapid breeding systems for winter wheat. With collaborators he established a rapid breeding system that integrates doubled haploid (DH) technology with off-season breeding (The Crop Journal, 2026).
6. Honors and Awards
April 2024, Shandong Province Special Allowance (certificate No. 202401090)
April 2024, “Leading Figure in High-Level Agricultural Opening-Up”, Weifang
December 2023, State Council Special Allowance for Experts (certificate No. 2023010969)
December 2023, Friendship Ambassador of Shandong Province
June 2023, Third Prize of the Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Award for “Breeding and Application of High-Quality, Disease-Resistant, Storage- and Transport-Tolerant Mini Watermelon Varieties” (2022-3-137-R2)
August 2020, “One Matter, One Policy” Leading Talent, Weifang (wfysyy-2020003)
November 2018, Lifetime Achievement Award, International Cucurbitaceae Symposium (the first Asian scientist to receive this honor)
2003, Syngenta Science and Technology Award
2001, Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award
1997, Gold Award, 5th China Patent Invention Award
7. Patents and Plant Variety Rights
7.1 Granted Chinese Invention Patents
1. A method for creating watermelon mutants by EMS mutagenesis (ZL 2021 1 0010385.X); inventors: Yun Deng, Xingping Zhang, Xing Wang Deng; patentee: Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences; granted 2022.
2. Watermelon male-sterile gene ClMS1 and its application (ZL 202111556735.9; grant publication No. CN115385994B); inventors: Yun Deng, Jingsheng Tan, Xiao Chu, Xingping Zhang, Xing Wang Deng; patentee: Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences; granted 15 November 2024.
3. Peanut promoter and its application (ZL 202210193478.5); inventors: Xiaoqin Liu, Yuanyuan Cui, Xingping Zhang, Xing Wang Deng; patentee: Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences; granted 15 August 2023.
7.2 Filed and Published Chinese Invention Patent Applications
4. A method for accelerating the watermelon breeding process (application No. 202411595302.8; publication No. CN119256691A; filing date 11 November 2024); inventors: Yun Deng, Runlin Mao, Xiao Chu, Xingping Zhang; applicants: Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences and Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences (Weifang); under substantive examination.
5. A method for producing watermelon hybrid seeds through honeybee pollination (application No. 202511819192); inventors: Yudong Sun, Xin Liu, Wenzhao Xu, Tian Bai, Yun Deng, Xingping Zhang, Binghua Xu, Rui Cheng, Zhaoyang Zhang, Dayue Huang, Yan Gu, Dexu Luo, Mingxia Zhao, Jingsheng Tan; applicant: Huaiyin Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Xuhuai Region, Jiangsu (the Institute is a collaborating institution); under examination.
7.3 Granted U.S. Patents (14)
Dr. Zhang is an inventor on 14 granted U.S. patents arising from his work at Clemson University and Syngenta. The full list is as follows:
1. US 6,018,101 A, Method using male sterility and a marker to produce hybrid seeds and plants; Clemson University; granted 25 January 2000.
2. US 6,747,191 B2, Inbred tetraploid watermelon line 90-4194; Syngenta; granted 8 June 2004.
3. US 6,759,576 B2, Enhanced pollenizer and method for increasing seedless watermelon yield; Syngenta; granted 6 July 2004.
4. US 7,071,374 B2, Method for producing triploid, seedless watermelon; Syngenta; granted 4 July 2006.
5. US 7,238,866 B2, Triploid hybrid watermelon plants; Syngenta; granted 3 July 2007.
6. US 7,528,298 B2, Enhanced pollenizer and method for increasing seedless watermelon yield; Syngenta; granted 5 May 2009.
7. US 7,547,550 B2, Tetraploid watermelons producing small fruits; Syngenta; granted 16 June 2009.
8. US 7,550,652 B2, Watermelon pollenizer SP-4; Syngenta; granted 23 June 2009.
9. US 7,652,193 B2, Tetraploid watermelon producing small fruits; Syngenta; granted 26 January 2010.
10. US 8,173,873 B2, Watermelon pollenizer SP-5; Syngenta; granted 8 May 2012.
11. US 8,212,118 B1, Watermelon pollenizer SP-6; Syngenta; granted 3 July 2012.
12. US 8,476,500 B2, Inbred tetraploid watermelon line 4XASSS4; Syngenta; granted 2 July 2013.
13. US 8,629,330 B2, Methods and compositions for the inhibition of meristematic growth on cucurbit rootstock; Syngenta and Clemson University; granted 14 January 2014.
14. US 8,742,208 B2, Tetraploid watermelons producing small fruits; Syngenta; granted 3 June 2014.
7.4 U.S. Plant Variety Protection (PVP)
While at Clemson University and Syngenta, Dr. Zhang bred the following watermelon varieties, for which U.S. Plant Variety Protection certificates (PVP) were obtained in the name of Syngenta. The 12 certificates below were verified individually against the USDA Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO) Certificate Management System; all are named to Syngenta, every filing date falls within his tenure as Head Watermelon Breeder at Syngenta (1999–2013), and all are in Certificate Issued status:
1. PV 200000346, 90-4228; filed 25 September 2000; certificate issued 15 February 2001.
2. PV 200100260, 90-4194; filed 20 August 2001; certificate issued 5 February 2002.
3. PV 200300006, SP-1; filed 11 October 2002; certificate issued 12 September 2003.
4. PV 200600019, 90-4262; filed 28 October 2005; certificate issued 20 May 2009.
5. PV 200700023, SP-4; filed 31 October 2006; certificate issued 3 June 2009.
6. PV 200800012, 4XMSAS; filed 17 October 2007; certificate issued 10 December 2010.
7. PV 200800025, 4XHDML6; filed 7 November 2007; certificate issued 29 December 2010.
8. PV 200800033, 90-4343ts; filed 21 November 2007; certificate issued 29 December 2010.
9. PV 201000008, SP-5; filed 23 October 2009; certificate issued 22 June 2010.
10. PV 201000270, 4XASSS4; filed 25 March 2010; certificate issued 10 December 2010.
11. PV 201000271, 4XCS34; filed 25 March 2010; certificate issued 10 December 2010.
12. PV 201200091, SP-6; filed 5 January 2012; certificate issued 18 January 2013.
7.5 Chinese Plant Variety Rights
Chinese plant variety right applications filed by the Institute include ‘Weimei W101’ (application No. 20221007183), ‘Weimei W102’ (application No. 20221002161), ‘Youmeng W105’ (application No. 20231005849), and ‘Huixin W107’ (application No. 20231007707); breeders: Yun Deng, Xingping Zhang, Xiao Chu; applicant: Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, with Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences (Weifang) as co-applicant.
The variety use rights for the above small-fruited watermelon series have been transferred to Youmeng Biotechnology (Weifang) Co., Ltd.; market revenue in 2024 was projected to exceed RMB 200 million.
8. Selected Publications (2019–2026)
† co-first author; * corresponding author.
1. Junjie Fu*, Cong Tan, Xingping Zhang, Liang Li, Zonggeng Li, Jianan Zhang, Junhui Wang, Huan Liu, Qichang Yang, Richard G. F. Visser*, Yunbi Xu* (2026) Revolution in plant breeding: from field to factory. Molecular Plant, 19(9): 1746–1750.
2. Xianwen Zhu, Zhanchao Li, Shengnan Zhang, Yunbi Xu*, Xingping Zhang* (2026) An updated protocol for accelerating winter wheat genetic improvement by integrating doubled haploid and off-season breeding technologies. The Crop Journal, online 1 July 2026.
3. Mingxia Zhao†, Rui Cheng†, Yongchun Wang, Jisheng Liu, Xiaoni Li, Lifang Xue, Taohong Fang, Yudong Sun, Yun Deng*, Yunbi Xu*, Xingping Zhang* (2026) Development and application of a 40K liquid chip enriched with structural variation markers for watermelon breeding. Horticulture Research, uhag221.
4. Taohong Fang†, Zhen Zhuang†, Mingxia Zhao†, Xiao Chu, Jingsheng Tan, Xinyang Xu, Rui Cheng, Yi Zhang, Xu Wang, Yunbi Xu*, Xingping Zhang*, Yun Deng* (2026) ClBCM: an EMS mutated gene regulating chlorophyll synthesis and adaptation to diverse stresses in watermelon. Molecular Horticulture, 6(1): 39.
5. Taotao Wang, Wenjing Hu, Weifeng Song, Xiwen Liao, Hongjian Zheng, Xingping Zhang, Xiufang Xin, Pawan Kumar Singh, Yuan Chen*, Yunbi Xu* (2026) From triangle to pyramid: understanding host–pathogen–microbiome–environment interplay for sustainable, enviromics-empowered management of plant diseases. Plant Communications, 7(5): 101815.
6. Juan Li†, Zenghui Chen†, Kui Li†, Jingsheng Tan, Jing Sun, Xing Wang Deng, Younghoon Park*, Hang He*, Yun Deng*, Xingping Zhang* (2026) Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly and a mutant library empower functional genomics and genetic improvement in Cucurbita moschata. Plant Communications, 7(5): 101836.
7. Yilin Zhang*, Xiaoyi Wang, Yan Wang, Yu Niu, Xu Han, Jingsheng Tan, Xinyu Ma, Qingzheng Zhang, Jie Liu, Zhijie Zhang, Wenying Gao, Wenjie Liang, Luyao Li, Zhaohua Liu, Xingping Zhang*, Hang He*, Yan Yang*, Renbo Yu* (2026) Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly and comprehensive mutation library facilitate bitter gourd breeding and functional genomics research. Plant Communications, 7(4): 101779.
8. Taohong Fang†, Shixiang Duan†, Yudong Sun, Xiao Chu, Xingping Zhang*, Yun Deng* (2026) An intronic SNP in candidate gene ClALB3 is associated with light green coloration in watermelon. Scientia Horticulturae, 358: 114697.
9. Danna Yu†, Zhiqiang Meng†, Fanhui Kong, Ning Gao, Kanglong Liu, Yun Deng, Li Zong, Xingping Zhang*, Zhiguo Han* (2025) Increasing γ-aminobutyric acid content in dwarf cherry tomato using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. Horticulturae, 11(12): 1423.
10. Yao Tian†, Kui Li†, Tonghui Li, Wudi Gai, Jie Zhou, Xing Wang Deng, Yan Xue, Yun Deng*, Hang He*, Xingping Zhang* (2025) The near-complete genome assembly of pickling cucumber and its mutation library illuminate cucumber functional genomics and genetic improvement. Molecular Plant, 18(4): 551–554.
11. Ziwei Hu, Leichen Zhang, Jun Shi, Quansheng Ying, Huafeng Zhang, Xingping Zhang, Yun Deng, Yuhong Wang* (2025) Point mutation of the alpha-tubulin gene ClTUA causes dominant dwarf phenotype in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Horticulturae, 11(6): 562.
12. Yilin Zhang†, Mingxia Zhao†, Jingsheng Tan†, Minghan Huang†, Xiao Chu, Yan Li, Xue Han, Taohong Fang, Yao Tian, Robert Jarret, Dongdong Lu, Yijun Chen, Lifang Xue, Xiaoni Li, Guochen Qin, Bosheng Li, Yudong Sun, Xing Wang Deng, Yun Deng, Xingping Zhang*, Hang He* (2024) Telomere-to-telomere Citrullus super-pangenome provides direction for watermelon breeding. Nature Genetics, 56(8): 1750–1761.
13. Weikai Chen†, Xiangfeng Wang†, Jie Sun†, Xinrui Wang†, Zhangsheng Zhu†, Dilay Hazal Ayhan, Shu Yi, Ming Yan, Lili Zhang, Tan Meng, Yu Mu, Jun Li, Dian Meng, Jianxin Bian, Ke Wang, Lu Wang, Shaoying Chen, Ruidong Chen, Jingyun Jin, Bosheng Li, Xingping Zhang, Xing Wang Deng, Hang He*, Li Guo* (2024) Two telomere-to-telomere gapless genomes reveal insights into Capsicum evolution and capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Nature Communications, 15: 4295.
14. Yun Deng, Xin Liu, Shoucheng Liu, Xiaoni Li, Lifang Xue, Tian Bai, Binghua Xu, Guoqing Li, Yudong Sun, Xingping Zhang* (2024) Fine mapping of ClLOX, a QTL for powdery mildew resistance in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137(3): 51.
15. Bill Rhodes, Xingping Zhang (2024) Hybrid seed production in watermelon. In: Hybrid Seed Production in Vegetables: Rationale and Methods in Selected Crops. CRC Press: 69–88 (first edition 2000).
16. Pingli Yuan†, Congping Xu†, Nan He†, Xuqiang Lu, Xingping Zhang, Jianli Shang, Hongju Zhu, Chengsheng Gong, Hanhui Kuang, Tang Tang, Yong Xu, Shuangwu Ma, Dexi Sun, Weiqin Zhang, Muhammad J. Umer, Jian Shi, Alisdair R. Fernie, Wenge Liu*, Jie Luo* (2023) Watermelon domestication was shaped by stepwise selection and regulation of the metabolome. Science China Life Sciences, 66(3): 579–594 (published online 2022).
17. Yun Deng, Shoucheng Liu, Yilin Zhang, Jingsheng Tan, Xiaopeng Li, Xiao Chu, Binghua Xu, Yao Tian, Yudong Sun, Bosheng Li, Yunbi Xu, Xing Wang Deng, Hang He*, Xingping Zhang* (2022) A telomere-to-telomere gap-free reference genome of watermelon and its mutation library provide important resources for gene discovery and breeding. Molecular Plant, 15(8): 1268–1284.
18. Yunbi Xu*, Xingping Zhang, Huihui Li, Hongjian Zheng, Jianan Zhang, Michael S. Olsen, Rajeev K. Varshney, Boddupalli M. Prasanna, Qian Qian (2022) Smart breeding driven by big data, artificial intelligence, and integrated genomic-enviromic prediction. Molecular Plant, 15(11): 1664–1695.
19. Xianwen Zhu, Yunbi Xu, Jian Li, Xingping Zhang* (2022) Establishment of heterotic groups for hybrid wheat breeding (in Chinese). Chinese Science Bulletin, 67(26): 3152–3164.
20. Xingping Zhang, Qian Qian, Jianan Zhang, Xingwang Deng, Jianmin Wan, Yunbi Xu* (2021) Transforming and upgrading off-season breeding in Hainan through molecular plant breeding (in Chinese). Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 54(18): 3789–3804.
21. Jian Lv, Kun Yu, Juan Wei, Huaping Gui, Chunxia Liu, Dawei Liang, Yanli Wang, Hongju Zhou, Ryan Carlin, Randy Rich, Tiancong Lu, Qiudeng Que, Wen Chung Wang, Xingping Zhang, Tim Kelliher (2020) Generation of paternal haploids in wheat by genome editing of the centromeric histone CENH3. Nature Biotechnology, 38(12): 1397–1401.
22. Guo S, Zhao S, Sun H, Wang X, Wu S, Lin T, Ren Y, Gao L, Deng Y, Zhang J, Lu X, Zhang H, Shang J, Gong G, Wen C, He N, Tian S, Li M, Liu J, Wang Y, Zhu Y, Jarret R, Levi A, Zhang X, Huang S, Fei Z, Liu W, Xu Y (2019) Resequencing of 414 cultivated and wild watermelon accessions identifies selection for fruit quality traits. Nature Genetics, 51(11): 1616–1623.
23. Shan Wu, Xin Wang, Umesh Reddy, Honghe Sun, Kan Bao, Lei Gao, Linyong Mao, Takshay Patel, Carlos Ortiz, Venkata L. Abburi, Padma Nimmakayala, Sandra Branham, Pat Wechter, Laura Massey, Kai-Shu Ling, Chandrasekar Kousik, Sue A. Hammar, Yaakov Tadmor, Vitaly Portnoy, Amit Gur, Nurit Katzir, Nihat Guner, Angela Davis, Alvaro G. Hernandez, Chris L. Wright, Cecilia McGregor, Robert Jarret, Xingping Zhang, Yong Xu, Todd C. Wehner, Rebecca Grumet, Amnon Levi*, Zhangjun Fei* (2019) Genome of ‘Charleston Gray’, the principal American watermelon cultivar, and genetic characterization of 1,365 accessions in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System watermelon collection. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 17(12): 2246–2258.