Research Area

(1) Collection and ex situ conservation of strategic plant resources such as aromatic plants;

(2) Evaluation of aromatic plant resources and the molecular mechanism of aromatic substance metabolism regulation; 

(3) Function exploration of active substances from aromatic plants and their application in product development in the fields of cosmetic raw materials, food additives and feed additives; 

(4) New variety breeding, industrial demonstration and promotion. 

Introduction

In 1989, Beijing Agricultural University awarded a bachelor's degree in agriculture; In 1999, the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences obtained an on-the-job Doctor of Science degree; Since 1989, he has successively held the positions of Research Assistant, Assistant Researcher, and Associate Professor at the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Since 2001, he has held the position of Professor, and since 2022, he has held the position of Senior Professor. Executive Director of the China Wild Plant Protection Association and Chairman of the Fragrant Plants Professional Committee; Executive Director of the China Flower Association and President of the Ferns Branch of the Flower Association; Vice Chairman of the Fungal Plants Professional Committee of the Chinese Botanical Society; Deputy Director of the Ornamental Plants Professional Committee of the National Forestry and Grassland Bureau's Tree Variety Appraisal Committee; Deputy Director of the Ornamental Plant Variety Appraisal Professional Committee of the Beijing Forest Variety Appraisal Committee; Member of the Academic Committee and Technical Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Plant Research Institute. He has been engaged in the collection, new variety breeding, industrial demonstration and promotion research of strategic plant resources such as aromatic plants.  He has published over 180 papers in journals such as Plant Biotechnology Journal, Horticulture Research, The Plant Journal, Plant Communication, Food Chemistry, and has published 10 monographs. He has obtained 41 authorized patents and transformed 2 patents. He has established the national aromatic plant germplasm resource bank and the national wild fern germplasm resource bank. He has bred 34 new plant varieties, among which 15 have been approved as national and provincial-level superior varieties and 19 have obtained new variety rights. He has undertaken the compilation and research of 1 national standard and 6 industry standards. He has received 1 provincial and ministerial-level science and technology first prize and 2 second prizes, and 9 appraisal results. In 2016, he was awarded the State Council Special Allowance.

Publications

Representative papers in the past five years:

2025

Yuan-Peng Hao, Xiao-Qi Guo, Hui Li, Fei Xia, Di Wang, Yan-Mei Dong, Mei-Yu Sun, Dan Wan, Hong-Tong Bai, Lei Shi. 2025. Harnessing oregano residues: Mechanistic insights into enhancing alfalfa silage fermentation. Industrial Crops & Products, 236: 121811.

Yue Qi#, Ye-Qin Huang#, Hui Li, Zong-Xin Jin, Riccardo Amorati*, Lei Shi*. 2025. Effect of fatty acid composition on rosemary antioxidants in stabilizing woody edible oils: a kinetic and machine learning analysis of volatiles under accelerated oxidation. Food Chemistry, 492: 145214. 

Yan-Mei Dong#, Zi-Ling Wei#, Jing-Rui Li, Wen-Ying Zhang, Fei Gao, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2025. Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate affects the transcriptome of terpenoid biosynthesis genes in lavender and functional characterization of the candidate gene LabHLH74. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 227: 110085.

Ya-Nan Zhang, Jin-Zheng Zhang, Jia-Hui Miao, Guo-Feng Sun, Hong-Tong Bai, Jian-Hua Xiao, Mei-Yu Sun*, Lei Shi*. 2025. Micromorphology and molecular insights into glandular trichomes in two different thymes: glandular trichomes formation process and the function of the main regulator TqHD1. Plant, Cell & Environment, 48: 6269-6284.

Mei-Yu Sun#, Jia-Hui Miao#, Ya-Nan Zhang, Yuan-Peng Hao, Jin-Zheng Zhang, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Lei Shi*.  2025. Antioxidant activity analysis of new interspecific hybrid germplasm thyme and oregano essential oils with different chemotypes. BMC Plant Biology, 25: 33. 

Yang Liu#, Yan-Mei Dong#, Xin Wang, Ye-Qin Huang, Fan Wu, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li, Lei Shi*, Bao-Guo Wang*. 2025. Effects of lavender essential oil inhalation aromatherapy on postoperative sleep quality in patients with intracranial tumors: a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 16: 1584998.

2024

Mei-Yu Sun#, Ya-Nan Zhang#, Yuan-Peng Hao#, Jia-Hui Miao, Guo-Feng Sun, Jian-Hua Xiao, Xiao Yang, Jin-Zheng Zhang*, Lei Shi*. 2024. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Chinese native thyme essential oils with different chemotypes. Molecules, 29: 6035.

Yan-Mei Dong, Zi-Ling Wei, Wen-Ying Zhang, Jing-Rui Li, Mei-Xian Han, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2024. LaMYC7, a positive regulator of linalool and caryophyllene biosynthesis, confers plant resistance to Pseudomonas syringae. Horticulture Research, 11: uhae044.

Ye-Qin Huang, Meng-Ting Ding, Di Wang, Hui Li, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Mei-Yu Sun, Mei-Ling Mo, Yan-Mei Dong*, Lei Shi*. 2024. Chemical diversity and antimelanoma potential of rosemary essential oils: unveiling mechanistic insights through quantitative proteomics. Industrial Crops & Products, 215: 118652.

Lian-Hua Zhang, Jun-Wei Ge, Fei Gao, Min Yang, Hui Li, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Xiang-Shu Piao, Zhi-Ying Sun, Lei Shi*. 2024. Rosemary leaf powder improves egg quality, antioxidant status, gut barrier function, and cecal microbiota and metabolites of late-phase laying hens. Animal Nutrition, 17: 325-334.

Wen-Ying Zhang#, Jing-Rui Li#, Yan-Mei Dong, Ye-Qin Huang, Yue Qi, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2024. Genome-wide identification and expression of BAHD acyltransferase gene family shed novel insights into the regulation of linalyl acetate and lavandulyl acetate in lavender. Journal of Plant Physiology, 292: 154143.

2023

Lei Shi*, Zheng-An Liu, Li-Jun Wang, Qing-Yan Shu, Mei-Yu Sun, Wei Duan, Hui Li. 2023. Developing characteristic resource plants to contribute to the construction of Beautiful China. Chinese Academy of Sciences Journal, 38(12): 1856-1865.

Yan-Mei Dong#, Zi-Ling Wei#, Rui Yang, Ya-Nan Zhang, Mei-Yu Sun, Hong-Tong Bai, Mei-Ling Mo, Chun-Lei Yao, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Chemical compositions of essential oil extracted from eight thyme species and potential biological functions. Plants, 12: 4164.

Zheng-Yi Ling, Jing-Rui Li, Yan-Mei Dong, Wen-Ying Zhang, Hong-Tong Bai, Shu Li, Su Wang, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Terpene produced by coexpression of the TPS and P450 genes from Lavandula angustifolia protects plants from herbivore attacks during budding stages. BMC Plant Biology, 23: 477.

Jing-Rui Li#, Hui Li#, Yi-Ming Wang#, Wen-Ying Zhang, Di Wang, Yan-Mei Dong, Zheng-Yi Ling, Hong-Tong Bai, Xiao-Hua Jin, Xiao-Di Hu*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Decoupling subgenomes within hybrid lavandin provide new insights into speciation and monoterpenoid diversification of Lavandula. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 21: 2084-2099.

Lian-Hua Zhang#, Jun-Wei Ge#, Fei Gao, Min Yang, Hui Li, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Xiang-Shu Piao, Zhi-Ying Sun*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Rosemary extract improves egg quality by altering gut barrier function, intestinal microbiota, and oviductal gene expressions in late-phase laying hens. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 14: 121.

Ya-Nan Zhang, Di Wang, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Mei-Yu Sun*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Formation mechanism of glandular trichomes involved in the synthesis and storage of terpenoids in lavender. BMC Plant Biology, 23: 307. 

Fei Xia#, Hai-Ping Hao#, Ying Qi, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li*, Zhen-Xia Shi*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Effect of salt stress on microbiome structure and diversity in chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) rhizosphere soil. Agronomy, 13: 1444.

Mei-Yu Sun#, Ning-Ning Liu#, Jia-Hui Miao, Ya-Nan Zhang, Yuan-Peng Hao, Jin-Zheng Zhang, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Lei Shi*. 2023. Creation of new oregano genotypes with different terpene chemotypes via inter- and intraspecific hybridization. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24: 7320. 

Yue Qi, Ye-Qin Huang, Yan-Mei Dong, Wen-Ying Zhang, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai , Zora Dajic Stevanovic, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Effective improvement of the oxidative stability of Acer truncatum Bunge seed oil, a new woody oil food resource by rosemary extract. Antioxidants, 12: 889.

Rui Yang, Yan-Mei Dong, Fei Gao, Jing-Yi Li, Zora Dajic Stevanovic, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Comprehensive analysis of secondary metabolites of four ethnically medicinal thyme species and the antioxidant activities in vitro. Molecules, 28: 2582.

Yuan-Peng Hao, Xiao-Qi Guo, Wen-Ying Zhang, Fei Xia, Mei-Yu Sun, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Hong-Xia Cui, Lei Shi*. 2023. 1 H NMR–based metabolomics reveals the antimicrobial action of oregano essential oil against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in broth, milk, and beef. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 176: 114540.

Yuan-Peng Hao, Jia-Mu Kang, Xiao-Qi Guo, Mei-Yu Sun, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Hong-Xia Cui, Lei Shi*. 2023. pH-responsive chitosan-based film containing oregano essential oil and black rice bran anthocyanin for preserving pork and monitoring freshness. Food Chemistry, 403: 134393.

Mei-Yu Sun#, Li Zhu#, Ya-Nan Zhang, Ning-Ning Liu, Jin-Zheng Zhang, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Lei Shi*. 2023. Creation of new germplasm resources, development of SSR markers, and screening of monoterpene synthases in thyme. BMC Plant Biology, 23: 13.

Ye-Qin Huang, He-Ran Xu, Meng-Ting Ding, Jing-Yi Li, Di Wang, Hui Li, Mei-Yu Sun, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Min Wang, Mei-Ling Mo, Lei Shi*. 2023. Screening of rosemary essential oils with different phytochemicals for antioxidant capacity, keratinocyte cytotoxicity, and anti-proliferative activity. Molecules, 28(2): 586.

Mei-Yu Sun#, Ya-Nan Zhang#, Hong-Tong Bai, Guo-Feng Sun, Jin-Zheng Zhang*, Lei Shi*. 2023. Population diversity analyses provide insights into key horticultural traits of Chinese native thymes. Horticulture Research, 10: uhac262.

2022

Fei Gao#, Lian-Hua Zhang#, Hui Li, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Xiang-Shu Piao, Zhi-Ying Sun, Hong-Xia Cui, Lei Shi*. 2022. Dietary Oregano Essential Oil Supplementation Influences Production performance and gut microbiota in late-phase laying hens fed wheat-based diets. Animals, 12: 3007.

Lian-Hua Zhang, Fei Gao, Jun-Wei Ge, Hui Li, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Xiang-Shu Piao, Lei Shi*. 2022. Potential of aromatic plant-derived essential oils for the control of foodborne bacteria and antibiotic resistance in animal production: A review. Antibiotics, 11: 1673.

Yuan-Peng Hao, Xiao-Qi Guo, Rui Yang, Yi-Hao Yan, Mei-Yu Sun, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Hong-Xia Cui, Jing-Yi Li*, Lei Shi*. 2022. Unraveling the biosynthesis of carvacrol in different tissues of Origanum vulgare. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23: 13231.

Xiao-Qi Guo, Yuan-Peng Hao, Wen-Ying Zhang, Fei Xia, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2022. Comparison of Origanum essential oil chemical compounds and their antibacterial activity against Cronobacter sakazakii. Molecules, 27: 6702.

Yuan-Peng Hao, Xiao-Qi Guo, Wen-Ying Zhang, Fei Xia, Evan Yang, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Lei Shi*. 2022. Label-free quantitative proteomics reveals the antibacterial mechanism of rosemary essential oil against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Industrial Crops & Products, 189: 115757.

Hai-Ping Hao#, Fei Xia#, Hang-Tong Bai, Xun-You Yan, Hong-Xia Cui, Xiao-Ming Xie, Lei Shi*. 2022. Impact of Litsea cubeba inter-row cover on the structure of bacterial community in the tea plantation. Annals of Microbiology, 72: 37.

Hai-Ping Hao#, Yan-Mei Dong#, Xiao-Pei Zhu, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li, Jian Gong, Amjad Farooq, Shi Lei*. 2022. ABA affects the florets number of inflorescence by regulating IAA transport and accumulation in Lavandula angustifolia. Biologia Plantarum, 66: 298-307. 

Jing-Rui Li, Mei-Yu Sun, Hui Li, Zheng-Yi Ling, Di Wang, Jin-Zheng Zhang, Lei Shi*. 2022. Full-length transcriptome-referenced analysis reveals crucial roles of hormone and wounding during induction of aerial bulbils in lily. BMC Plant Biology, 22: 15. 

Mei-Yu Sun#, Ya-Nan Zhang#, Li Zhu, Ning-Ning Liu, Hong-Tong Bai, Guo-Feng Sun, Jin-Zheng Zhang*, Lei Shi*. 2022. Chromosome-level assembly and analysis of the Thymus genome provide insights on glandular secretory trichome formation and monoterpenoid biosynthesis in thyme. Plant Communications, 3: 100413.

Shu Li#, Hui Li#, Qiong Zhou, Fan Zhang, Nicolas Desneux, Su Wang*, Lei Shi*. 2022. Essential oils from two aromatic plants repel the tobacco whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Journal of Pest Science, 95: 971-982. 

Yan-Mei Dong, Wen-Ying Zhang, Jing-Rui Li, Di Wang, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2022. The transcription factor LaMYC4 from lavender regulates volatile Terpenoid biosynthesis. BMC Plant Biology, 22:289.

Yan-Mei Dong, Jing-Rui Li, Wen-Ying Zhang, Hong-Tong Bai, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2022. Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate affects the emissions of volatile compounds in lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 185: 25-34.

Yi Wang#, Li-Min Lu#, Jing-Rui Li#, Hua-Yang Li, Yi-Chen You, Shu-Ying Zang, Yong-Qing Zhang, Jian-Fei Ye, Ze-Min Lv, Zhao-Yu Zhang, Yong-Sheng Qin, Hong-Ling Zhang, Fei Xia, Hui Li, Hui-Jin Zhang, Pei-Ge Fan*, Lei Shi*, Zhen-Chang Liang*, Hong-Xia Cui*. 2022. A chromosome-level genome of Syringa oblata provides new insights into chromosome formation in Oleaceae and evolutionary history of lilacs. The Plant Journal, 111(3): 836-848.

Yuan-Peng Hao, Jia-Mu Kang, Rui Yang, Hui Li, Hong-Xia Cui, Hong-Tong Bai, Andrey Tsitsilin, Jing-Yi Li*, Lei Shi*. 2022. Multidimensional exploration of essential oils generated via eight oregano cultivars: compositions, chemodiversities, and antibacterial capacities. Food Chemistry, 374: 131629.

Zhen-Xu Liang, Jin-Zheng Zhang, Chao Xin, Dong Li, Mei-Yu Sun*, Lei Shi*. 2022. Analysis of edible characteristics, antioxidant capacities, and phenolic pigment monomers in Lilium bulbs native to China. Food Research International, 151: 110854.

2021

Jing-Rui Li#, Yi-Ming Wang#, Yan-Mei Dong, Wen-Ying Zhang, Di Wang, Hong-Tong Bai, Kui Li*, Hui Li*, Lei Shi*. 2021. The chromosome-based lavender genome provides new insights into Lamiaceae evolution and terpenoid biosynthesis. Horticulture Research, 8:53.

Yuan-Peng Hao, Jing-Yi Li*, Lei Shi*. 2021. A Carvacrol-rich essential oil extracted from oregano (Origanum vulgare ‘Hot & Spicy') exerts potent antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12:741861. 

Yuan-Peng Hao, Jing-Yi Li, Wen-Ying Zhang, Mei-Yu Sun, Hui Li, Fei Xia, Hong-Xia Cui, Hong-Tong Bai, Lei Shi*. 2021. Analysis of the chemical profiles and anti-S. aureus activities of essential oils extracted from different parts of three oregano cultivars. Foods, 10: 2328.

Yuan-Peng Hao, Jia-Mu Kang, Xiao-Qi Guo, Rui Yang, Yu-Liang Chen, Jing-Yi Li*, Lei Shi*. 2021. Comparison of nutritional compositions and essential oil profiles of different parts of a dill and two fennel cultivars. Foods, 10: 1784.

Yi-Hao Yan, Di Wang*, Jing-Yi Li, Wen-Ying Zhang, Yuan-Peng Hao, Fei Xia, Hui Li, Hong-Tong Bai, Lei Shi*. 2021. Effects of 60Co-γ radiation on morphology and volatile components of basil seeds. Acta Botanica Sinica, 56(5): 533-543.

Hai-Ping Hao, Hong-Tong Bai, Fei Xia, Yuan-Peng Hao, Hui Li, Hong-Xia Cui, Xiao-Ming Xie, Lei Shi*. 2021. The influence of tea-Phellodendron amurense intercropping on the soil microbial community structure in tea gardens. Chinese Agricultural Science, 54(18): 3959-3969.

Zhao-Yu Zhang, Qing-YunWang, Lei Shi, Wen-Gang Yu, Yong-Qing Zhang, Hong-Xia Cui*. 2021. Secondary metabolites of the Syzygium genus and their association with phylogenetic evolution and geographical environment. Acta Botanica Sinica, 56(4): 470-479.

Others

New variety:

'JingXun No. 3' Lavender (Approved National Breeding Varieties: National S-SV-LA-026-2014), The first person to complete the task.

'JingXun No. 1' Lavender (Approved National Breeding Varieties: National S-SV-S0-009-2012), The first person to complete the task.

'JingXun No. 2' Lavender (Approved National Breeding Varieties: National S-SV-S0-009-2012), The second person to complete the task.

'JinLi' Lavender (Variety Number: CNA20211006657; Grant Date: September 5, 2023), The second person to complete the task.

'ZhiNv' Oregano (Variety Number: 20230449; Grant Date: September 6, 2023), The second person to complete the task.

'LuoShen' Lavender (Variety Number: CNA20201004266; Grant Date: November 30, 2022), The second person to complete the task.

'TianShanJingLing' Lavender (Variety Number: CNA20231002320; Grant Date: May 1, 2025), The fifth person to complete the task.

'TianShanFeiXue' Lavender (Variety Number: CNA20231002324; Grant Date: May 1, 2025), The fourth person to complete the task.