1. 光信号调控植物发育的分子机理；
2. 光信号调控草莓果实品质性状（包括果色、糖分积累以及果实成熟软化等）的分子机理；
3. 草莓果实发育相关分子机理。
研究论文
Li Y, Xu PB, Chen GQ, Wu J, Liu ZC, Lian HL* (2020). FvbHLH9 functions as a positive regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis by forming HY5-bHLH9 transcription complex in strawberry fruits. Plant & Cell Physiology. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa010.
Wu J, Wang WX, Xu PB, Pan J, Zhang T, Li Y, Lian HL*(2019). PhyB interacts with BES1 to regulate brassinosteroid signaling in arabidopsis. Plant & Cell Physiology. 60: 353-366
Xu PB, Lian HL*, Xu F, Zhang T, Wang S, Wang WX et al (2019). Phytochrome B and AGB1 coordinately regulate photomorphogenesis by antagonistically modulating PIF3 stability in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plant 12: 229-247.（共同第一）
Lian HL, Xu PB, He SB, Wu J, Pan J, Wang WX et al (2018). Photoexcited CRYPTOCHROME 1 interacts directly with G-protein β subunit AGB1 to regulate the DNA-Binding activity of HY5 and photomorphogenesis in arabidopsis. Molecular Plant. 11:1248-1263
Zhang T, Xu PB, Wang WX, Wang S, Caruana JC, Lian HL*(2018). Arabidopsis G-proteins β subunit AGB1 interacts with BES1 to regulate brassinosteroid signaling and cell elongation. Front Plant Sci. 8: 2225.
Xu PB, Zawora C, Li Y, Wu J, Liu LC, Liu ZC, Cai R, Lian HL* (2018). Transcriptome sequencing reveals role of light in promoting anthocyanin accumulation of strawberry fruit. Plant Growth Regulation. 86: 121-132.
Wang WP, Sijacic P, Xu PB, Lian HL, Liu ZC* (2018). Arabidopsis TSO1 and MYB3R1 form a regulatory module to coordinate cell proliferation with differentiation in shoot and root. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 115: 201715903.
Lu XD, Zhou CM, Xu PB, Luo Q, Lian HL*, Yang HQ* (2015). Red light-dependent interaction of phyB with SPA1 promotes COP1–SPA1 dissociation and photomorphogenic Development in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plant 8:467-478 （共同通讯作者）