Yaohui Hu, Wenge Liu, Nan He (2026). Abscisic Acid in Fruit Ripening and Postharvest Adaptation: Mechanisms and Quality–Resilience Trade-Offs. Horticulturae.DOI
Dongdong Yang, Weikang Kong, Zihao Chen, Wenge Liu, Nan He, Xiaowen Luo, Jiayin Zhang, Danmei Zhu, Xuqiang Lü, Hongju Zhu (2026). Differential and Specific Analysis of Free Amino Acid Composition in Cucurbitaceae Fruits: A Multi-Tissue Study of 10 Species. Horticulturae.DOI
Shao Zhengwei, Fikru Tamiru Kenea, Chen Gang, Dongdong Yang, Mengli Chen, Y ZHANG, Lu Xuqiang, Hongju Zhu, He Nan, Wenge Liu (2026). Evolutionary and functional analysis of ARF and Aux/IAA gene families reveals their roles in sugar metabolism and watermelon domestication. Frontiers in Plant Science.DOI
Zhengwei Shao, Fikru Tamiru Kenea, Dongdong Yang, Gang Chen, Yifan Su, Xuqiang Lü, Mengli Chen, Y ZHANG, Hongju Zhu, Nan He, Wenge Liu (2026). A chromosome-scale genome assembly of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus cv. ‘Mimei’) integrates multi-omics data to decipher fruit quality development. Planta.DOI
Yongjiao Meng, Qiangqiang Ding, Jia Li, Mingxia Wang, Xiujuan Zhou, Qian Zhang, Wenge Liu, Congsheng Yan (2025). Map-based cloning and functional validation of ClChlH governing yellow rind color in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Theoretical and Applied Genetics.DOI
Fikru Tamiru Kenea, Nan He, Xuqiang Lü, Xiaowen Luo, Hongju Zhu, Wenge Liu (2025). Watermelon fruit metabolome gene discovery and its application in breeding: a review. Frontiers in Plant Science.DOI
Eftekhar Mahmud, Hongju Zhu, Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Muhammad Zeeshan Sajjad, Nan He, Xuqiang Lü, Wenge Liu (2024). Polyploidization Impact on Plant Architecture of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Horticulturae.DOI
Di Jiao, Hong G. Zhao, Honghe Sun, Jie Zhang, Haiying Zhang, Guoyi Gong, Muhammad Anees, Hongju Zhu, Wenge Liu, Yong Xu (2024). Identification of allelic relationship and translocation region among chromosomal translocation lines that leads to less-seed watermelon. Horticulture Research.DOI
Yong Bo Zhao, Hongju Zhu, Xuqiang Lü, Muhammad Anees, Nan He, Dongdong Yang, Zihao Chen, Zonglie Hong, Junhong Zhang, Wenge Liu (2024). Streamlined Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation for efficient CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing evaluation in diverse Citrullus cultivars. Horticultural Plant Journal.DOI
Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Muhammad Anees, Dongdong Yang, Weikang Kong, Jiwen Zhang, Luming Yuan, Xiaowen Luo, Hongju Zhu, Wenge Liu (2024). A Comparison of Watermelon Flesh Texture across Different Ploidy Levels Using Histology and Cell Wall Measurements. Horticulturae.DOI
Muhammad Anees, Hongju Zhu, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Chengsheng Gong, Pingli Yuan, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Dongdong Yang, Yong Bo Zhao, Wenge Liu (2023). Identification of an Aux/IAA regulator for flesh firmness using combined GWAS and bulked segregant RNA-Seq analysis in watermelon. Horticultural Plant Journal.DOI
Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Muhammad Anees, Eman B. El-Remaly, Ahmed Fathy Yousef, Ehab A. A. Salama, Hazem Mohamed Kalaji, Wenge Liu (2023). Comparative physiological and biochemical mechanisms in diploid, triploid, and tetraploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) grafted by branches. Scientific Reports.DOI
Nan He, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Pingli Yuan, Weiwei Wang, Hongju Zhu, Xuqiang Lü, Yan xing, Chengsheng Gong, Raufa Batool, Xiaowu Sun, Wenge Liu (2023). Physiological, biochemical, and metabolic changes in diploid and triploid watermelon leaves during flooding. Frontiers in Plant Science.DOI
Chengsheng Gong, Nan He, Hongju Zhu, Muhammad Anees, Xuqiang Lü, Wenge Liu (2023). Multi-omics integration to explore the molecular insight into the volatile organic compounds in watermelon. Food Research International.DOI
Chengsheng Gong, Xuqiang Lü, Hongju Zhu, Muhammad Anees, Nan He, Wenge Liu (2022). Genome-wide association study provides genetic insights into natural variation in watermelon rind thickness and single fruit weight. Frontiers in Plant Science.DOI
Muhammad Anees, Lei Gao, Chengsheng Gong, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Pingli Yuan, Hongju Zhu, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Dongdong Yang, Yong Bo Zhao, Wenge Liu (2022). Aux/IAA gene Cla004102, is involved in synergistic regulation of various endogenous hormones, regulating flesh firmness in watermelon. Scientia Horticulturae.DOI
Pingli Yuan, Congping Xu, Nan He, Xuqiang Lü, Xingping Zhang, Jianli Shang, Hongju Zhu, Chengsheng Gong, Hanhui Kuang, Tang Tang, Yong Xu, Shuangwu Ma, Dexi Sun, Weiqin Zhang, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Jianxin Shi, Alisdair Robert Fernie, Wenge Liu, Jie Luo (2022). Watermelon domestication was shaped by stepwise selection and regulation of the metabolome. Science China Life Sciences.DOI
Huanxin Zhang, Guoquan Li, Chengpu Yan, Xinlong Zhang, Cao Na, Meiwang Le, Xinlong Hu, Fanghong Zhu, Wenge Liu (2022). Elucidating the Molecular Responses to Waterlogging Stress in Cucumis melo by Comparative Transcriptome Profiling. Horticulturae.DOI
Nan He, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Pingli Yuan, Weiwei Wang, Hongju Zhu, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Yan Xing, Chengsheng Gong, Wenge Liu, Xiaowu Sun (2022). Expression dynamics of metabolites in diploid and triploid watermelon in response to flooding. PeerJ.DOI
Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Muhammad Anees, Hongju Zhu, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Eman B. El-Remaly, Ahmed A.S.A. El-Eslamboly, Ahmed Fathy Yousef, Ehab A. A. Salama, Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei, Hazem Mohamed Kalaji, Wenge Liu (2022). Transcriptome Profiling to Dissect the Role of Genome Duplication on Graft Compatibility Mechanisms in Watermelon. Biology.DOI
Chengsheng Gong, Shengjie Zhao, Dongdong Yang, Xuqiang Lü, Muhammad Anees, Nan He, Hongju Zhu, Yong Bo Zhao, Wenge Liu (2022). Genome-wide association analysis provides molecular insights into natural variation in watermelon seed size. Horticulture Research.DOI
Chengsheng Gong, Bingbing Li, Muhammad Anees, Hongju Zhu, Shengjie Zhao, Nan He, Xuqiang Lü, Wenge Liu (2021). Fine-mapping reveals that the bHLH gene Cla011508 regulates the bitterness of watermelon fruit. Scientia Horticulturae.DOI
Junling Dou, Huihui Yang, Dongling Sun, Sen Yang, Shouru Sun, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Huayu Zhu, Dongming Liu, Changsheng Ma, Wenge Liu, Luming Yang (2021). The branchless gene Clbl in watermelon encoding a TERMINAL FLOWER 1 protein regulates the number of lateral branches. Theoretical and Applied Genetics.DOI
Chengsheng Gong, Hongju Zhu, Xuqiang Lü, Dongdong Yang, Shengjie Zhao, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Nan He, Pingli Yuan, Muhammad Anees, Weinan Diao, Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Wenge Liu (2021). An integrated transcriptome and metabolome approach reveals the accumulation of taste-related metabolites and gene regulatory networks during watermelon fruit development. Planta.DOI
Muhammad Anees, Lei Gao, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Pingli Yuan, Hongju Zhu, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Chengsheng Gong, Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Shengjie Zhao, Wenge Liu (2021). Identification of Key Gene Networks Associated With Cell Wall Components Leading to Flesh Firmness in Watermelon. Frontiers in Plant Science.DOI
Chengsheng Gong, Weinan Diao, Hongju Zhu, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Shengjie Zhao, Nan He, Xuqiang Lü, Pingli Yuan, Muhammad Anees, Dongdong Yang, Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Wenge Liu (2021). Metabolome and Transcriptome Integration Reveals Insights Into Flavor Formation of ‘Crimson’ Watermelon Flesh During Fruit Development. Frontiers in Plant Science.DOI
Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Eftekhar Mahmud, Muhammad Anees, Weinan Diao, Pingli Yuan, Hongju Zhu, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Eman B. El-Remaly, Wenge Liu (2021). Physio-Anatomical Study of Polyploid Watermelon Grafted by Different Methods. Agronomy.DOI
Pingli Yuan, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Nan He, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Hongju Zhu, Chengsheng Gong, Weinan Diao, Haileslassie Gebremeskel, Hanhui Kuang, Wenge Liu (2021). Transcriptome regulation of carotenoids in five flesh-colored watermelons (Citrullus lanatus). BMC Plant Biology.DOI
Ali Aslam, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Hongju Zhu, Aman Ullah Malik, Muhammad Azam, Wenge Liu (2021). High-Throughput LC-ESI-MS/MS Metabolomics Approach Reveals Regulation of Metabolites Related to Diverse Functions in Mature Fruit of Grafted Watermelon. Biomolecules.DOI
Pingli Yuan, Nan He, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Shengjie Zhao, Weinan Diao, Hongju Zhu, Junling Dou, Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Hanhui Kuang, Xuqiang Lü, Wenge Liu (2021). Comparative Metabolomic Profiling of Citrullus spp. Fruits Provides Evidence for Metabolomic Divergence during Domestication. Metabolites.DOI
Muhammad Jawad Umer, Luqman Bin Safdar, Haileslassie Gebremeskel, Shengjie Zhao, Pingli Yuan, Hongju Zhu, Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Muhammad Anees, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Chengsheng Gong, Wenge Liu (2020). Identification of key gene networks controlling organic acid and sugar metabolism during watermelon fruit development by integrating metabolic phenotypes and gene expression profiles. Horticulture Research.DOI
Ali Aslam, Zhao ShengJie, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Wenge Liu (2020). Rootstock mediates transcriptional regulation of citrulline metabolism in grafted watermelon. Brazilian Journal of Biology.DOI
Umer Muhammad Jawad, Lei Gao, Haileslassie Gebremeskel, Luqman Bin Safdar, Pingli Yuan, Shengjie Zhao, Lu Xuqiang, Nan He, Zhu Hongju, Wenge Liu (2020). Expression pattern of sugars and organic acids regulatory genes during watermelon fruit development. Scientia Horticulturae.DOI
Bingbing Li, Xuqiang Lü, Haileslassie Gebremeskel, Shengjie Zhao, Nan He, Pingli Yuan, Chengsheng Gong, Umer Mohammed, Wenge Liu (2020). Genetic Mapping and Discovery of the Candidate Gene for Black Seed Coat Color in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Frontiers in Plant Science.DOI
Ali Aslam, Shengjie Zhao, Muhammad Azam, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Bingbing Li, Junling Dou, Hongju Zhu, Wenge Liu (2020). Comparative analysis of primary metabolites and transcriptome changes between ungrafted and pumpkin-grafted watermelon during fruit development. PeerJ.DOI
Haileslassie Gebremeskel, Junling Dou, Bingbing Li, Shengjie Zhao, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Wenge Liu (2019). Molecular Mapping and Candidate Gene Analysis for GA3 Responsive Short Internode in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). International Journal of Molecular Sciences.DOI
Shaogui Guo, Shengjie Zhao, Honghe Sun, Xin Wang, Shan Gong Wu, Tao Lin, Yi Ren, Lei Gao, Yun Deng, Jie Zhang, Xuqiang Lü, Haiying Zhang, Jianli Shang, Guoyi Gong, Changlong Wen, Nan He, Shouwei Tian, Maoying Li, Junpu Liu, Yanping Wang, Yingchun Zhu, Robert L. Jarret, Amnon Levi, Xingping Zhang, Sanwen Huang, Zhangjun Fei, Wenge Liu, Yong Xu (2019). Resequencing of 414 cultivated and wild watermelon accessions identifies selection for fruit quality traits. Nature Genetics.DOI
Bingbing Li, Shengjie Zhao, Junling Dou, Aslam Ali, Haileslassie Gebremeskel, Lei Gao, Nan He, Xuqiang Lü, Wenge Liu (2019). Genetic mapping and development of molecular markers for a candidate gene locus controlling rind color in watermelon. Theoretical and Applied Genetics.DOI
Bingbing Li, Xuqiang Lü, Junling Dou, Ali Aslam, Lei Gao, Shengjie Zhao, Nan He, Wenge Liu (2018). Construction of A High-Density Genetic Map and Mapping of Fruit Traits in Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus L.) Based on Whole-Genome Resequencing. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.DOI
Hongju Zhu, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Lei Gao, Junling Dou, Zhilong Bie, Wenge Liu (2018). Genome duplication improves the resistance of watermelon root to salt stress. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.DOI
Junling Dou, Xuqiang Lü, Aslam Ali, Shengjie Zhao, Lei Zhang, Nan He, Wenge Liu (2018). Genetic mapping reveals a marker for yellow skin in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.). PLoS ONE.DOI
Lei Gao, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Wenge Liu (2018). ‘SW’, a New Watermelon Cultivar with a Sweet and Sour Flavor. HortScience.DOI
Junling Dou, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Lei Zhang, Aslam Ali, Hanhui Kuang, Wenge Liu (2018). Genetic mapping reveals a candidate gene (ClFS1) for fruit shape in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics.DOI
Lei Gao, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Hongju Zhu, Junling Dou, Wenge Liu (2018). Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals key genes potentially related to soluble sugar and organic acid accumulation in watermelon. PLoS ONE.DOI
Junling Dou, Pingli Yuan, Sheng-jie ZHAO, Nan He, Hongju Zhu, Lei Gao, Wan-li JI, Xuqiang Lü, Wenge Liu (2017). Effect of ploidy level on expression of lycopene biosynthesis genes and accumulation of phytohormones during watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit development and ripening. Journal of Integrative Agriculture.DOI
Angela R. Davis, Charles L. Webber, Wenge Liu, Penelope M. Perkins-Veazie, Amnon Levi, Stephen R. King (2013). Watermelon Quality Traits as Affected by Ploidy. HortScience.DOI
Wenge Liu (2013). Research progress on metabolic and molecular regulation of lycopene. Guoshu xuebao.
Muhammad Zeeshan Sajjad, Xuqiang Lü, Eftekhar Mahmud, Fikru Tamiru Kenea, Mekonnen Tolasa Gonfa, Dongdong Yang, Gang Chen, Xiaowen Luo, He Nan, Hongju Zhu, Wenge Liu (2026). Multi-Omics Profiling of Female Ovary Development Identifies Key Defects in Seed Production of Autotetraploid Watermelon. Research Square.DOI
Mohamed Omar Kaseb, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Haileslassie Gebremeskel, Eftekhar Mahmud, Weinan Diao, Pingli Yuan, Hongju Zhu, Shengjie Zhao, Xuqiang Lü, Nan He, Chengsheng Gong, Muhammad Anees, Ahmed A.S.A. El-Eslamboly, Wenge Liu (2020). Long-Lasting Graft Union Compatibility Enigma Explained by Comparative Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms in Di, Tri, and Tetraploid Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) Grafted by Branches. Preprints.org.DOI