Anzhi Ren

1987-1991 B.S. in Plant Physiology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China 1991-1994 M.S. in Plant Ecology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China 1999-2003 Ph.D. in Environmental Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China

1994-1997 Lecturer, Department of Horticulture, Tianjin Agriculture College 1997-2000 Lecturer, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University 2000-2011 Associate professor, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University 2006-2007 Visiting scholar, Department of Biology, Indiana University 2011-present Professor, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University

lInteraction between endophytic fungi and native grasses

lApplication of endophytic-infected grasses in phytoremediation

Current Research Projects

2016-2020 Grassland degradation mechanism and ecological restoration technology in farming pastoral transitional zone of northern China. National Key Research Special Foundation. ¥1,480,000.

2016-2019 Effect of endophyte infection on mycorrhizal dependence of host and non-host grasses. National Natural Science Foundation. ¥748,000.

2013-2016 The comparative study of different species of endophytic fungi on the grass host and its community. National Natural Science Foundation. ¥850,000.

2014-2016 Effect of endophyte infection and simulated nitrogen deposition on growth of native grass hosts. Doctoral Program Foundation of Institutions of Higher Education of China. ¥120,000.

Selected Publications (*corresponding author)

1.Zhou Y, Li X, Gao Y, Liu H, Gao YB, van der Heijden MGA, Ren AZ*. Plant endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter plant competition. Functional Ecology, 2018, 32:1168-1179.

2.Chen W, Liu H, Wurihan, Gao YB, Card SD, Ren AZ*. The advantages of endophyte-infected over uninfected tall fescue in the growth and pathogen resistance are counteracted by elevated CO₂. Scientific Reports, 2017, DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-07183-y

3.Liu H, Chen W, Wu M, Wurihan, Zhou Y, Gao YB, Ren AZ*. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus inoculation reduces the drought-resistance advantage of endophyte-infected versus endophyte-free Leymus chinensis. Mycorrhiza, 2017, 27:791-799.

4.Qin JH, Gao Y, Liu H, Zhou Y, Ren AZ*, Gao YB. Effect of endophyte infection and clipping treatment on resistance and tolerance of Achnatherum sibiricum. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016, 7:1988. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01988

5.Li X, Zhou Y, Mace W, Qin JH, Liu H, Chen W, Ren AZ*, Gao YB. Endophyte species influence the biomass production of the native grass Achnatherum sibiricum (L.) Keng under high nitrogen availability. Ecology and Evolution, 2016, 6: 8595-8606.

6.Effects of simultaneous infections of endophytic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of their shared host grass Achnatherum sibiricum under varying N and P supply. Fungal Ecology, 2016, 20:56-65.

7.Wu LJ, Ren AZ*, Jing YH, Zhou Y, Wang XY, Qin JH, Gao YB. Endophytic benefit on competition of the host is neutralized by increasing ratios of infected plants. Acta Oecologica, 2016, 70:112-120.

8.Wang XY, Qin JH, Chen W, Zhou Y, Ren AZ, Gao YB. Pathogen resistant advantage of endophyte-infected over endophyte-free Leymus chinensis is strengthened by pre-drought treatment. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 2016, 144:477-486.

9.Li X, Zhou Y, Zhu MJ, Qin JH, Ren AZ, Gao YB. Stroma-bearing endophyte and its potential horizontal transmission ability in Achnatherum sibiricum. Mycologia, 2015, 107:21-31.

10.Jia T, Ren AZ, Gao YB. Host genotype overrides endophyte infection effects on growth, physiology and nutrient content of a native grass, Achnatherum sibiricum. Plant Ecology, 2014, 215:875–887.

11.Yin LJ, Ren AZ, Wei MY, Wu LJ, Zhou Y, Li X, Gao YB. Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue and its potential application in the phytoremediation of saline soils. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 2014, 16:235–246.

12.Ren AZ, Wei MY, Yin LJ, Wu LJ, Zhou Y, Li X, Gao YB. Benefits of a fungal endophyte in Leymus chinensis depend more on water than on nutrient availability. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2014, 108:71-78.

13.Jia C, Ruan WB, Zhu MJ, Ren AZ, Gao YB. Potential antagnosim of cultivated and wild grass–endophyte associations towards Meloidogyne incognita. Biological Control, 2013, 64: 225-230.

14.Zhu MJ, Ren AZ, Wen W, Gao YB. Diversity and taxonomy of endophytes from Leymus chinensis in the Inner Mongolia steppe of China. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2013, 340: 135-145.

15.Li X, Ren AZ*, Han R, Yin LJ, Wei MY, Gao YB. Endophyte-mediated effects on the growth and physiology of Achnatherum sibiricum are conditional on both N and P availability.PLoS One 2012, 7(11): e48010.

16.Ren AZ, Li X, Han R, Yin LJ, Wei MY, Gao YB. Benefits of a symbiotic association with endophytic fungi are subject to water and nutrient availability in Achnatherum sibiricum. Plant and Soil, 2011, 346:363-373.

17.Ren AZ, Gao YB, Li C. Endophytic fungus improves growth and metal uptake of Lolium arundinaceum Darbyshire ex. Schreb. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 2011, 13:233-243.

18.Zhang X, Ren AZ*, Ci HC, Gao YB. Genetic diversity and structure of Neotyphodium endophytes and their host Achnatherum sibiricum in a natural grass-endophyte system. Microbial Ecology, 2010, 59:744-756. (*co-first author)

19.Zhang X, Ren AZ, Wei YK, Lin F, Li C, Liu ZJ, Gao YB.Taxonomy, diversityand origins of symbiotic endophytes of Achnatherum sibiricum in the Inner Mongolia Steppe of China.FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2009, 301:12–20.

20.Ren AZ, Wang YH, Gao YB.Difference in antifungal activity of morphotypes of clavicipitaceous endophytes within and between species. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2009, 29:227–231.

21.Ren AZ*, Clay K. Impact of a horizontally transmitted endophyte, Balansia henningsiana, on growth and drought tolerance of Panicum rigidulum. International Journal of Plant Science, 2009, 170(5):599-608.

22.Ren AZ, Gao YB, Wang W, Wang JL, Zhao NX. Influence of nitrogen fertilizer and endophyte infection on ecophysiological parameters and mineral element content of perennial ryegrass. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2009, 51(1):75-83.

23.Ren A Z, Gao YB, Wang YH, Zhang X, Wei YK. Diversity of clavicipitaceous fungal endophytes in Achnatherum sibiricum in natural grasslands of China. Symbiosis. 2008, 46, 21–31.

24.Ren AZ, Gao YB, Zhou F. Response of Neotyphodium lolii-infected perennial ryegrass to phosphorus deficiency. Plant Soil and Environment, 2007, 53:113-119.

25.Ren AZ, Gao YB, Zhang L, Xie FX. Effects of cadmium on growth parameters of endophyte-infected and endophyte-free ryegrass. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 2006, 169 (6): 857-860.

26.Ren AZ, Gao YB, Wang W, Wang JL. Photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic products of endophyte-infected and endophyte-free Lolium perenne L. under drought stress conditions. Front. Biol. China, 2006, 1(2):168-173.

27.Zhao NX, Gao YB, Wang JL, Ren AZ. Population structure and genetic diversity of Stipa grandis P. Smirn, a dominant species in the typical steppe of northern China. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 2008, 36:1-10.

28.Wei YK, Gao YB, Zhang X, Su D, Wang YH, Xu H, Lin F, Ren AZ. Distribution and diversity of Epichloë /Neotyphodium fungal endophytes from different populations of Achnatherum sibiricum in the Inner Mongolia Steppe, China. Fungal Diversity, 2007, 24:329-345.

29.Wang JL, Zhao NX, Gao YB, Lin F, Ren AZ, Ruan WB, Chen L. RAPD analysis of genetic diversity and population genetic structure of Stipa krylovii Reshov. in Inner Mongolia steppe. Russian Journal of Genetics, 2006, 42 (5): 468-475.

30.Wei YK, Gao YB, Xu H, Su D, Zhang X, Wang YH, Chen L, Nie LY, Ren AZ. Neotyphodium in native grasses in China and observations on endophyte/host interactions. Grass and Forage Science, 2006, 61 (4): 422-429.

Undergraduate courses taught at Nankai University

Plant Physiology

Ecology

Graduate courses taught at Nankai University

Environmental Botany

Plant Physiological Ecology