Shi-Wei Zhao
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Research Interests
Shi-Wei Zhao has a total of 8 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
Hai-Bo Liu
Jinan Academy of Landscape and Forestry Science, Jinan, China
1 shared publication- Hai-Yao Ma
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
1 shared publication - Jian-Feng Mao
Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
1 shared publication - Shuai Nie
Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
1 shared publication - Tianle Shi
Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
1 shared publication - Yu-Tao Bao
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 6 January 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in BMC Genomics
- Vol. 27 (1)
A pangenome insight into the genome divergence and flower color diversity among Rhododendron species
Background: The Rhododendron genus ( Rhododendron L.), recognized as the most extensive woody plant genus in the Northern Hemisphere, captivates with its strikingly beautiful corollas and variety of flower colors. In addition, the Rhododendron genus exhibits a complex evolutionary history and substantial species diversification. To comprehensively understand the genomic complexity and flower color diversity within this genus, comparative genomics has emerged as a promising approach, enabling analysis at a super-species level. Results: Here, we collected whole-genome data from seven rhododendrons of different subgenera to investigate the patterns of interspecific genomic and sequence divergence, as well as evolutionary dynamics of gene family related to flower color. We discovered that approximately 50% of Rhododendron genomes are composed of transposable elements (TEs), with over half of them being long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs). TEs significantly associate with genomic differentiation and structural variances within the genus. Additionally, the duplication and loss of genes associated with flower color and their corresponding expression over time are potentially driven by TEs. Conclusion: Our comparative genomic analysis accentuates the critical role of TEs in genome divergence within the Rhododendron genus, highlighting their potential role as a key factor governing speciation and interspecific variability within the genus.
- 6 January 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in BMC Genomics
- Vol. 27 (1)
Open AccessA pangenome insight into the genome divergence and flower color diversity among Rhododendron species
Background: The Rhododendron genus ( Rhododendron L.), recognized as the most extensive woody plant genus in the Northern Hemisphere, captivates with its strikingly beautiful corollas and variety of flower colors. In addition, the Rhododendron genus exhibits a complex evolutionary history and substantial species diversification. To comprehensively understand the genomic complexity and flower color diversity within this genus, comparative genomics has emerged as a promising approach, enabling analysis at a super-species level. Results: Here, we collected whole-genome data from seven rhododendrons of different subgenera to investigate the patterns of interspecific genomic and sequence divergence, as well as evolutionary dynamics of gene family related to flower color. We discovered that approximately 50% of Rhododendron genomes are composed of transposable elements (TEs), with over half of them being long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs). TEs significantly associate with genomic differentiation and structural variances within the genus. Additionally, the duplication and loss of genes associated with flower color and their corresponding expression over time are potentially driven by TEs. Conclusion: Our comparative genomic analysis accentuates the critical role of TEs in genome divergence within the Rhododendron genus, highlighting their potential role as a key factor governing speciation and interspecific variability within the genus.