Self-introduction 

Dr. Song got his PhD degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at the Fudan University in 2017, after that he went to the department of microbiology at the University of British Columbia for postdoc training. He then joined the Department of Biology in SUSTech as an Assistant Professor in Oct. 2021. Dr. Song got cross-disciplinary training in plant molecular biology and microbiome studies. His research focused on the regulation of root immunity, as well as the mechanism of shaping rhizosphere microbiome in plants. Dr. Song is currently a review editor of Frontiers in Microbiology and Frontiers in plant science. 

High eukaryotic organisms are generally associated with microbial communities (microbiome), and the microbiome could significantly affect the growth, metabolism and fitness of hosts. The molecular interaction mechanism between host and the microbiome is among one of the frontier and hot direction in biology studies. His previous work introduced forward genetic screen into plant-microbiome interaction related studies, and identified FER receptor like kinase as a key regulator of beneficial microbe colonization in the rhizosphere. The lab will further utilize molecular genetics and microbiome related strategies to study the regulation of root immunity and rhizosphere microbiome composition, and will also explore the effect of plant microbiome on plant environmental fitness.

Research Interests：

◆Regulation of root immunity and the mechanisms of shaping/re-shaping rhizosphere microbiome in plants;

◆The effect of microbiome on plant stress tolerance and the underling mechanisms;

◆The regulation of root colonization in beneficial rhizosphere microbes.

Professional Experience：

◆Oct. 2021 to now      SUSTech                        Assistant Professor

Oct. 2017 to Sep. 2021   The University of British Columbia    Postdoc 

Educational Background：

◆Sep. 2012 to July 2017            Fudan University      Mater and PhD

◆ Sep. 2008 to July 2012     Anhui Agriculture University   Bachelor 

Selected Publication：

[13] Pengfei Meng1#, Zhenghong Wang1#, Zheng Qu2#, ……, Song, Y.* Stress responsive phytohormone pathways are generally required for shaping drought-alleviating microbiome. Under review. 最后通讯 

[12]Hao, Haibo .……Song, Y.*, Zhu H.*, Zhang D.* “Phenolic acid biosynthesis is associated with deleterious microbiome changes during Plasmodiophora brassicae-induced clubroot in pakchoi.” Microbiome vol. 14,1 92. 并列通讯

[11] Yang, Q., Li, Z., Guan, K., Wang, Z., Tang, X., Hong, Y., … & Song, Y.* (2025). Comparative single-nucleus RNA-seq analysis revealed localized and cell type-specific pathways governing root-microbiome interactions. Nature Communications, 16(1), 3169. 最后通讯 

[10] Wang, Z., Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Liao, J., Guan, K., Zhai, J., … & Song, Y.* (2024). Root hair developmental regulators orchestrate drought triggered microbiome changes and the interaction with beneficial Rhizobiaceae. Nature Communications, 15(1), 10068. 唯一通讯作者  

[9] Li, Z., Wang, Z.*, Zhang, Y., Yang, J., Guan, K., & Song, Y.* (2025). Identification of stress-alleviating strains from the core drought-responsive microbiome of Arabidopsis ecotypes. The ISME Journal, 19(1), wraf067. 最后通讯作者 

[8] Chen, N.,……,Song, Y.*, Li Y.* (2025).Autoinducing Peptides Regulate Antibiotic Production to Potentially Shape Root Microbiome. Science advances, 11(25): eadw5076. 并列通讯作者  

[7] Zhenghong Wang, Song, Y.*. Toward understanding the genetic bases underlying plant‐mediated “cry for help” to the microbiota. iMeta e8，(2022).  唯一通讯

[6] Xin, J., Zhou, Y., Qiu, Y., Geng, H., Wang, Y., Song, Y.*, … & Yan, K.* (2024). Structural insights into AtABCG25, an angiosperm-specific abscisic acid exporter. Plant Communications, 5(1). 并列通讯 

[5] Song, Y., Wilson A J, Zhang X C, et al. FERONIA restricts Pseudomonas in the rhizosphere microbiome via regulation of reactive oxygen species[J]. Nature plants, 2021, 7(5): 644-654.

(Commented by Molecular Plant/ Editor’s Highlight：FERONIA-Goddess Receptor in Plants)  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33972713/ 

[4] Song, Y., Haney C H. Drought dampens microbiome development[J]. Nature plants, 2021, 7(8): 994-995.

[3] Song, Y.,  Chuangwei Yang, Shan Gao, Wei Zhang, Lin Li, Benke Kuai. (2014). Age-triggered and dark-induced leaf senescence require the bHLH transcription factors PIF3, 4, and 5. Molecular plant, 7(12), 1776-1787.

[2] Song, Y., et al., “Molecular and physiological analyses of the effects of red and blue LED light irradiation on postharvest senescence of pak choi.” Postharvest Biology and Technology 164 (2020): 111155.

[1] Song, Y., #, Jiang, Y. #, Kuai, B., & Li, L. (2018). circadian clock-associated 1 inhibits leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. Frontiers in plant science, 9, 280. # equal contributions.