高等植物有性生殖过程中雌雄互作的分子调节机制，尤其关注小肽-受体信号参与生殖障碍形成的分子机制，致力于通过人工手段打破远缘杂交障碍实现远缘杂交，获得新的种质资源。

1. Liu P. #, Quan X. #, Song Z. #, Li W., Wang Y., Gu H., Xie D., Yang W., Dresselhaus T., Zhong S.*, Qu L.-J.* 2025, A two-step self-pollination mechanism maximizes fertility in Brassicaceae. Cell 188: 1-11.
2. Zhong S. #, Lan Z.#, Qu L.-J.* 2025 Ingenious Male–Female Communication Ensures Successful Double Fertilization in Angiosperms. Annu Revi Plant Biol 76: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-071512.
3. Zhong S.#, Zhao P.#, Peng X.#, Li H.-J.#, Duan Q.H.#, Cheung A.Y.#* (2024), From gametes to zygote: mechanistic advances and emerging possibilities in plant reproduction. Plant Physiology 195: 4–35.
4. Lan Z.#, Song Z.#, Wang Z., Li L., Liu Y., Zhi S., Wang R., Wang J., Li Q., Bleckmann A., Zhang L., Dresselhaus T., Dong J., Gu H., Zhong S.*, Qu L.-J.* 2023, Antagonistic RALF peptides control an intergeneric hybridization barrier on Brassicaceae stigmas. Cell 186: 4773-4787.
5. Li L.#, Hou S.#, Xiang W.#, Song Z., Wang Y., Zhang L., Li J., Gu H., Dong J., Dresselhaus T., Zhong S.*, Qu L.-J.* 2022, The egg cell is preferentially fertilized in Arabidopsis double fertilization. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 64 (11): 2039–2046.
6. Jiang J., Stührwohldt N., Liu T., Huang Q., Li L., Zhang L., Gu H., Fan L.*, Zhong S.*, Schaller A.*, Qu L.-J.* 2022, Egg cell-secreted aspartic proteases ECS1/2 promote gamete attachment to prioritize the fertilization of egg cells over central cells in Arabidopsis. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 64 (11): 2047–2059.
7. Zhong S.#, Li L.#, Wang Z.#, Ge Z.#, Li Q.#, Bleckmann A., Wang J., Song Z., Shi Y., Liu T., Li L., Zhou H., Wang Y., Zhang L., Wu H.-M., Lai L., Gu H., Dong J., Cheung A.Y., Dresselhaus T., and Qu L.-J.* (2022), RALF peptide signaling controls the polytubey block in Arabidopsis. Science 375: 290-296.
8. Li W.#, Li Q.#, Lyu M.#, Wang Z., Song Z., Zhong S., Gu H., Dong J., Dresselhaus T., Zhong S.*, Qu L.-J.* (2022), Lack of ethylene does not affect reproductive success and synergid cell death in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plants 15: 354-362.
9. Hou S.#, Shi J.#, Hao L.#, Wang Z., Liao Y., Gu H., Dong J., Dresselhaus T., Zhong S.*, Qu L.-J.* (2021), VPS18-regulated vesicle trafficking controls the secretion of pectin and its modifying enzyme during pollen tube growth in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 33: 3042-3056.
10. Liu M.#, Wang Z.#, Hou S., Wang L., Huang Q., Gu H., Dresselhaus T., Zhong S.*, Qu L.-J.* (2021), AtLURE1/PRK6-mediated signaling promotes conspecific micropylar pollen tube guidance. Plant Physiology 186: 865-873.
11. Zhong S., Wang Z., Qu L.-J. (2020), Pollen and pollen tube biology. (Chapter 6) Semi-in vivo assay for pollen tube attraction. Humana Press, 85-92.
12. Zhong S., Wang Z., Qu L.-J. (2020), Pollen and pollen tube biology. (Chapter 12) Obtaining mutant pollen for phenotypic analysis and pollen tube dual staining. Humana Press, 181-190.
13. Ge Z., Zhao Y., Liu M.-C., Zhou L.-Z., Wang L., Zhong S., Hou S., Jiang J., Liu T., Huang Q., Xiao J., Gu H., Wu H.-M., Dong J., Dresselhaus T., Cheung A.Y., Qu L.-J. (2019), LLG2/3 are co-receptors in BUPS/ANX-RALF signaling to regulate Arabidopsis pollen tube integrity. Current Biology 29: 3256-3265.
14. Zhong S., Qu L.-J. (2019), Cysteine-rich peptides: signals for pollen tube guidance, species isolation and beyond. Science China Life Sciences 62: 1243-1245.
15. Zhong S.#, Liu M.#, Wang Z.#, Huang Q., Hou S., Xu Y.-C., Ge Z., Song Z., Huang J., Qiu X., Shi Y., Xiao J., Liu P., Guo Y.-L., Dong J., Dresselhaus T., Gu H., Qu L.-J. (2019), Cysteine-rich peptides promote interspecific genetic isolation in Arabidopsis. Science 364: eaau9564.
16. Zhong S., Qu L.-J. (2019), Peptide/receptor-like kinase-mediated signaling involved in male-female interactions. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 51: 7-14.
17. Zhou H., Song Z., Zhong S., Zuo L., Qi Z.*, Qu L.-J.*, Lai L.* (2019), Mechanism of DNA-induced phase separation for transcriptional repressor VRN1. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 58: 4858-4862.
18. Sun Y., Huang J., Zhong S., Gu H., He S.*, Qu L.-J.* (2018), Novel DYW-type pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein BLX controls mitochondrial RNA editing and splicing essential for early seed development of Arabidopsis. Journal of Genetics and Genomics 45: 155-168.
19. Ge Z., Bergonci T., Zhao Y., Zou Y., Du S., Liu M.-C., Luo X., Ruan H., Garcia-Valencia L., Zhong S., Hou S., Huang Q., Lai L., Moura D., Gu H., Dong J., Wu H.-M., Dresselhaus T., Xiao J., Cheung A.*, Qu L.-J.* (2017), Arabidopsis pollen tube integrity and sperm release are regulated by RALF-mediated signaling. Science 358: 1596-1600.
20. Zhang J.#, Huang Q.#, Zhong S.#, Bleckmann A., Huang J., Guo X., Lin Q., Gu H., Dong J., Dresselhaus T., Qu L.-J. (2017), Sperm cells are passive cargo of the pollen tube in plant fertilization. Nature Plants 3: 17079.
21. Zhong S., Zhang J., Qu L.-J. (2017), The signals to trigger the initiation of ovule enlargement are from the pollen tubes: The direct evidence. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 59: 600-603.
22. Hao L.#, Liu J.#, Zhong S.#, Gu H., Qu L.-J. (2016), AtVPS41-mediated endocytic pathway is essential for pollen tube-stigma interaction in Arabidopsis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U. S. A. 113: 6307-6312.
23. Liu J., Zhong S., Guo X., Hao L., Wei X., Huang Q., Hou Y., Shi J., Wang C., Gu H., Qu L.-J. (2013), Membrane-bound RLCKs LIP1 and LIP2 are essential male factors controlling male-female attraction in Arabidopsis. Current Biology 23: 993-998.