Profile
Hong Luo
Genetics and Biochemistry
Professor
864-656-1746
AG Biotech/Biosystems Research Complex / BRC 104B [Lab]
AG Biotech/Biosystems Research Complex / BRC 104C [Office]
AG Biotech/Biosystems Research Complex / BRC 110 [Office]
AG Biotech/Biosystems Research Complex / BRC 136 [Lab]
AG Biotech/Biosystems Research Complex / BRC GH204 [Special_use]
Educational Background
Ph.D., Molecular Biology, Catholic University of Louvain
M.S., Molecular Biology, Catholic University of Louvain
M.S., Plant Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University
B.S., Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University
Profile/About Me
Dr. Hong Luo holds a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, and Master's degrees in Plant Genetics and Breeding, and Molecular Biology. After completing a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, Dr. Luo did his first postdoc on biochemistry and molecular biology to functionally characterize plant plasma membrane ATPase gene family using yeast as a model heterologous expression system. He then accepted a postdoctoral fellowship from the European Union and the National Center of Scientific Research of France to work on molecular marker development for genetic studies in Gracilaria gracilis. He did his third postdoc at Purdue University working on genetic transformation of rice and corn for trait modification, and on the use of the yeast FLP/FRT site-specific DNA recombination system in plants for genome modification. Before joining Clemson University, he was with HybriGene, Inc. as the Director of Research, working on gene transfer for trait modification in turfgrass and rice. His work leads to the development of the first genetically engineered, environmentally safe, male-sterile and herbicide-resistant turfgrass, and the development of a new method for hybrid crop production using site-specific DNA recombination systems. He currently maintains several active research projects for both basic and applied research on genetic modification of crop plants. He is a Faculty Fellow, Clemson Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, and the recipient of the 2013 Clemson University Godley-Snell Agricultural Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research. He is the member of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) and the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB). He was awarded Fellow Award and President Award of the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) in 2024 and is the elected member-at-large on the SIVB Board of Directors and served as SIVB Plant Biotechnology Section Program Committee Co-Chair and Chair and as the SIVB 2023 Program Chair.
Research Interests
My research focuses on gene discovery in grasses and cereals, and genetic improvement of perennials and row crops. Biotic and abiotic stresses are among the most important factors significantly impacting plant growth and agriculture production. We are particularly interested in understanding molecular mechanisms underlying plant response to adverse environmental conditions. Taking advantage of genetics, molecular biology and genomics tools, we seek to identify and functionally characterize new components in plant signal transduction, non-coding small RNA molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), and other genes and biological pathways involved in regulating plant resistance to pest and pathogen infection, drought, salt, heat stress and nutritional starvation. The knowledge acquired allows us to design novel molecular strategies to genetically engineer various food and bioenergy crops and perennial grasses, including turfgrass, switchgrass, rice, soybean and cotton for enhanced performance under various environmental adversities. Using biotechnology approach for trait modifications in economically and environmentally important crops, our long-term goal is to genetically improve major crop species and develop new cultivars with significantly enhanced yield and quality, contributing to agriculture production.
Research Group (Lab)
Qian Hu - Lab manager
Xiaotong Chen - Ph.D. student
Zhaohui Chen - Ph.D.. student
Ryan Watts - Ph.D. student
Ming Liu - M.S. student
Courses Taught
GEN4910: Directed Research in Genetics,
GEN4910H: Honors College course, Directed Research in Genetics.
BCHM4910: Directed Research in Biochemistry
BCHM4910H: Honors College course, Directed Research in Biochemistry
GEN/BCHM4930: Senior Seminar
GEN8140 Advanced Genetics
Selected Publications
List of recently published peer-reviewed papers and book chapters
1. Dong, K., Liu, C., Wang, M., Li, D., Li, J., Zhao, N., Sun, J., Wang, X., Di, H., Luo, H.*, Sun X.* (2026) The miR319/bHLH094 module regulates plant thermotolerance by modulating auxin biosynthesis and signaling pathway. Plant Biotechnology Journal, https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70545.
2. Chen, X., Chen, Z., Watts, R., Luo, H*. (2025) Non-coding RNAs in plant stress responses: molecular insights and agricultural applications. Plant Biotechnology Journal 23:3195-3233.
3. Zhao, J., Xiong, Y., Xu, M., Gou, W., Xiong, Y., Dong, Z., Pan, L., Sha, L., Luo, H.*, Ma, X.* (2025) Organelle genome characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of a warm-season turfgrass Eremochloa ophiuroides (Poaceae). Biology 14:975, https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14080975,
4. Che, R., Panah, M., Mirani, B., Knowles, K., Ostapovich, A., Majumdar, D., Chen, X., DeSimone, J., White, W., Noonan, M., Luo, H., Alexandrov A. (2025) Identification of human pathways acting on nuclear non-coding RNAs using the Mirror forward genetic approach. Nature Communications 16:4741, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59998-3.
5. Che, R., Mirani B., Panah, M., Chen, X., Luo, H., Alexandrov, A. (2025) Identification of RMP24 and RMP64, human ribonuclease MRP-specific protein components. Cell Reports 44:115752, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115752.
6. He, C., Liang, Y., Chen, R., Shen, Y., Li, R., Sun, T., Du, X., Ni, X., Shang, J., He, Y., Bao, M., Luo, H., Wang, J., Liao, P., Kang, C., Yuan, Y., Ning, G (2025) Boosting transcriptional activities by employing repeated activation domains in transcription factors. The Plant Cell 37, koae315, https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae315.
7. Ma, M., Li, R., Li, Y., Shang, J., He, Y., Xiang, F., Yang, Y., Wang, J., Luo, H., Zhang, J., Ning, G. (2025) Anthocyanin biosynthesis and transport synergistically modulated by RcMYB75 and RcGSTFL11 play a pivotal role in the feedforward loop in response to drought stress. The Plant Journal 121, e17240, http://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.17240.
8. Yang, D., Wang, W., Fang, Z., Wu, S., Chen, L., Chen, J., Zhang, W., Wang, F., Sun, T., Xiang, L., Wang, Y., Luo, H., Chan, Z. (2025) Genome-wide analysis of the phospholipase Ds in perennial ryegrass highlights LpABFs-LpPLD?3 cascade modulated osmotic and heat stress responses. Plant, Cell & Environment 48:1115-1129.
9. Taylor, J., Liu, H., White, S., Luo, H. (2025) Iron fertilization on two warm-season turfgrasses under shade and full sun. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1-9, http://doi.org/10.1002/its2.181.
10. Taylor, J., Liu, H., White, S., Luo, H. (2025) Iron fertilization and shade impacts on two warm-season turfgrasses under greenhouse conditions. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1-25, http://doi.org/10.1002/its2.192.
11. Patrick, C., Liu, H., White, S., Luo, H., Taylor, J. (2025) Nickel Tolerance in Cool-Season Grasses. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1-14, https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.185.
12. Bethea, Jr. F.G., Liu, H., Bruce, T., Bridges, W., Luo, H. (2024) Foliar solution hydrophobicity influenced by plant species, product and concentration. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1-8, http://doi.org/10.1002/its2.153.
13. Menchyk, N., Liu, H., Luo, H., Li, Z., Martin, S.B., Bethea Jr., F.G., Park, D.M. (2024) Two golf course putting green turfgrass responses to urea nitrogen and nickel. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1-14, https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.161.
14. Chen, X., Chen, Z., Fiorentino, A., Kuess. M., Tharayil, N., Kumar, R., Leonard, E., Noorai, R., Hu, Q., Luo, H.* (2024) MicroRNA169 integrates multiple factors to modulate plant growth and abiotic stress responses. Plant Biotechnology Journal 22:2541-2557.
15. Zhao, G., Liu, Y., Li, L., Che, R., Douglass, M., Benza, K., Angove, M., Luo, K., Hu, Q., Chen, X., Henry, C., Hu, Q., Li, Z., Ning, G., Luo, H.* (2024) Gene pyramiding for boosted plant growth and broad abiotic stress tolerance. Plant Biotechnology Journal 24:678-697.
16. Liu, C., Dong, K, Du, H., Wang, X., Li, X., Huang, N., Hu, Q., Luo, H.*, Sun, X.* (2024) AsHSP26.2, a chloroplast small heat shock protein positively regulates growth and development in creeping bentgrass. Plant Cell Reports 43:32.
17. Yang, D., Zhang, Z, Fang, Z, Wang, W, Wu, S., Sun, T., Wang, Y., Xiang, L., Luo, H. Chan, Z. (2024) Genome-wide identification and analysis of the HD-Zip transcription factors in perennial ryegrass highlight LpHOX22 and LpHOX24 as negative regulators of osmotic and heat stresses. Environmental and Experimental Botany 225:105854.
18. Sun, T., Wang, W., Hu, X., Meng, L., Xiang, L., Wang, Y., Wang, C., Luo, H., Ziyomo, C., Chan, Z. (2024) HSFA3 functions as a positive regulator of HSFA2a to enhance thermotolerance in perennial ryegrass. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 208:108512.
19. Liu, H., Todd, J. L., Luo, H. (2023) Turfgrass salinity stress and tolerance - A review. Plants 12:925.
20. Peng, Q., Zhao, J., Xiang, S., Li, J., He, C., Huang, X., Bao, M., Wang, J., Zhu, G., Larkin, R., Luo, H., Ning, G. (2022) Producing fluorescent plants to lure and trap insect pests. Plant Biotechnology Journal 20:1847-1849.
21. Zhang, B., Wang, Z., Han, X., Liu, X., Wang, Q., Zhang, J., Zhao, H., Tang, J., Luo, K., Zhai, Z., Zhou, J., Liu, P., He, W., Luo, H., Yu, S., Gao, Q., Zhang, L., Li, D. (2022) The chromosome-scale assembly of endive (Cichorium endivia) genome provides insights into the sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis. Genomics 114:110400.
22. Liu, Y., Wang, L., Liu, C., Yin, H., Liu, H., Luo, H.*, He, M.*, Zhou, Y*. (2022) CgbZIP1: A bZIP Transcription Factor from Chrysanthemum Grandiflora Confers Plant Tolerance to Salinity and Drought Stress. Agronomy 12:556.
23. Shi, J., Yan, X., Sun, T., Shen, Y., Shi, Q., Wang, W., Bao, M., Luo, H., Nian, F., Ning, G. (2022) Homeostatic regulation of flavonoid and lignin biosynthesis in phenylpropanoid pathway of transgenic tobacco. Gene 809:146017.
24. Sun, X., Huang N., Li, X., Zhu, J., Bian, X., Li, H., Wang, L., Hu, Q., Luo, H*. (2021) A chloroplast heat shock protein modulates growth and abiotic stress response in creeping bentgrass. Plant, Cell & Environment 44:1769-1787.
25. Liu, Y., Yan, J., Wang, K., Li, D., Yang, R., Luo, H., Zhang, W. (2021) MiR396-GRF module associates with switchgrass biomass yield and feedstock quality. Plant Biotechnology Journal 19:1523-1536.
26. Shi, J., Zhang, Q., Yan, X., Zhang, D., Zhou, Q., Shen, Y., Anupol, N., Wang, X., Bao, M., Robert, M.L., Luo, H., Ning, G. (2021) A conservative pathway for coordination of cell wall biosynthesis and cell cycle progression in plants. The Plant Journal 106:630-648.
27. Liu, H., Pressarakli, M., Luo, H., Menchyk, N., Baldwin C.M., Taylor, D.H. (2021) Turfgrass nitrogen management: a review. In: Handbook of Plant and Crop Physiology, 4th edition, Pessarakli, M. (ed), CRC Press, New York, NY, pp343-385.
28. Liu, H., Pressarakli, M., Luo, H., Menchyk, N., Baldwin C.M., Taylor, D.H. (2021) Growth and physiological responses of turfgrasses under stressful conditions. In: Handbook of Plant and Crop Physiology, 4th edition, Pessarakli, M. (ed), CRC Press, New York, NY, pp713-775.
Books
1. Compendium of Bioenergy Plants - Switchgrass, ISBN 978-1-4665-9636-8, Luo, H. & Wu, Y. (eds.), Science Publisher Inc., CRC Press - Tailor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, 2014.
2. Biolistic DNA Delivery - Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 2124, ISBN 978-1-0716-0355-0, Rustgi, S. & Luo, H. (eds.), Springer Science+Business Media, NY (to be published in March 2020).
List of patents awarded
1. Luo, H., Yuan S., Li Z., Hu Q. (2018) Methods and compositions for transgenic plants with enhanced cold tolerance, ability to flower without vernalization requirement and impacted fertility. Issued as U.S. Patent No. 10,023,873 on July 17, 2018.
2. Luo H., Yuan N. (2018) Methods and compositions for modulating gene expression in plants. Issued as U.S. Patent No. 9,957,518 on May 1, 2018.
3. Luo, H., Li D., Zhou, M., and Hu, Q (2018). Methods and compositions for increased abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Issued as U.S. Patent No. 9,944,942 on April 17, 2018.
4. Luo, H., Knap, H., Li, Z., Warner, A., Hu, Q. (2016) Methods and compositions for transgenic plants with enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Issued as U.S. Patent No. 9,441,241 on September 13, 2016.
5. Luo, H. (2012) Methods and compositions for an integrated dual site-specific recombination system for producing environmentally safe and clean transgenic plants. Issued as U.S. Patent No. 8,237,015 on August 7. 2012.
6. Luo, H., Hu, Q., Nelson, K., Longo, C., Kausch, A. P., Zilinskas, B. and Lakkaraju, S. (2009) Prevention of transgene escape in genetically modified perennials. Issued as U.S. Patent No. 7,525,015 on April 28, 2009.
Selected Talks
1. 07/21/25: Invited seminar in China Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. of China. Title: “MiR169-NFY module regulates plant growth and abiotic stress responses”.
2. 07/15/25: Invited seminar speaker in Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, P. R. of China. Title: “Grass biotechnology - from gene discovery, genomics tools development, gene containment and trait modification to product”.
3. 07/11/25: Invited speaker in the “International Pastureland and Forage Industry Congress 2025 (IPFIC 2025)”, July 10-13, Hulunbuir, China. Title: “Biotechnology for stress mitigation in grasses”.
4. 06/26/25: Invited seminar speaker in the Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Title: “Epigenetic regulation of plant stress responses for robust crops”.
5. 06/07/25: Invited speaker in the session “Biotechnology approaches for animal and crop improvement and environmental risk assessment of genetically engineered organisms” of the Society For In Vitro Biology (SIVB) 2025 Meeting, June 7-10, 2025, Norfolk, VA. Title: “Molecular strategies for transgene containment and removal in plants”.
Memberships
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)
Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB)
Honors and Awards
2024 Fellow Award of the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB)
2024 President Award of the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB)
2023 Program Committee Chair for 2023 Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) meeting
2022-2026 Elected Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors of the Society for In Vitro
Biology (SIVB)
2016, 2023 Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) Excellent Service Prize
2014-2016 Plant Biotechnology Section Co-Chair and Chair of the Society for In Vitro
Biology (SIVB) Meeting Program Committee
2013 Recipient of the 2013 Clemson University Godley-Snell Award for Excellence in
Agricultural Research
Links
Department of Genetics and Biochemistry
Google Scholar - Hong Luo
News Release - 2019
News Release - 2021
News Release - 2024
