1984年兰州大学学士。1987年兰州大学硕士。1994年荷兰Wageningen大学博士。1996-年美国Cold Spring Harbor实验室博士后，1996-2000年新加坡国立大学分子农业生物学院博士后。2000－2002年新加坡国立大学分子农业生物学院高级科学家。植物生殖和棉花生物技术实验室主任。2001年中国科学院"百人计划"入选者。

杨维才博士领导的创新研究组主要研究方向是植物雌配子体发育过程中细胞极性及其与运之间的关系，其目标是利用拟南芥为模式植物来探讨基本发育生物学问题，并以此为模式研究农作物基因功能。

植物生殖生物学是一门传统学科，传统的研究主要集中于对生殖过程的结构,形态和组织胚胎学描述，由于方法和技术方面的局限,对其分子及遗传机理的研究进展非常缓慢。年来由于Gene/enhancer Trap等系统和激光共聚焦显微技术的应用。植物生殖生物学的研究出现了一线生机。研究组研究的领域主要集中在植物雌配子体的发育方面,如孢原细胞和胚囊中卵细胞，中央细胞的命运决定机理等.通过对配子体突变体的遗传分析和基因克隆，了解植物生殖过程中的基因调控及分子机理。而对一些基本的生物学现象，如细胞极性、细胞命运的确立及受精机理等进行更深入的研究，了解植物的生殖过程。

在过去20多年，拟南芥作为模式植物在植物分子生物学，遗传学，植物病理学，次生代谢和发育生物学研究方面得到了非常广泛的应用，其6-8周的生活周期，相对小的基因组，自交，易于遗传转化，非常适合大规模繁殖等特点，使其成为首选的模式植物。该研究组希望建立一套以拟南芥为基础的，快速有效的实验系统，来研究农作物如水稻的基因功能，为农业生产提供技术储备。

Franssen, H. J., I. Vijn, W. C. Yang and T. Bisseling (1992).Developmental aspects of the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Monographs inSystematic Botany; 10 Years plant molecular biology. R. A. Schilperoort and L.Dure. 41: 89-107.

Deblank, C., P. Mylona, W. C. Yang, P. Katinakis, T. Bisselingand H. Franssen (1993). "CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SOYBEAN EARLY NODULINCDNA CLONE GMENOD55." PlantMolecular Biology 22(6): 1167-1171.

Franssen, H., W.-C. Yang, P. Katinakis and T. Bisseling (1993). Characterizationof GmENOD40, a gene expressed in soybean nodule primordia. Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture; New horizons innitrogen fixation. R. Palacios, J. Mora and W. E. Newton. 17: 275-284.

Kardailsky, I., W.-C. Yang, T. Bisseling and N. Brewin (1993). Small cysteine-richnodulins in pea nodule development. CurrentPlant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture; New horizons in nitrogenfixation. R. Palacios, J. Mora and W. E. Newton. 17: 354-354.

Kardailsky, I., W. C. Yang, A. Zalensky, A. Vankammen and T. Bisseling (1993)."THE PEA LATE NODULIN GENE PSNOD6 IS HOMOLOGOUS TO THE EARLY NODULIN GENESPSENOD3/14 AND IS EXPRESSED AFTER THE LEGHEMOGLOBIN GENES." Plant Molecular Biology 23(5): 1029-1037.

Yang, W. C., C. Deblank, I. Meskiene, H.Hirt, J. Bakker, A. Vankammen, H. Franssen and T. Bisseling (1994)."RHIZOBIUM NOD FACTORS REACTIVATE THE CELL-CYCLE DURING INFECTION ANDNODULE PRIMORDIUM FORMATION, BUT THE CYCLE IS ONLY COMPLETED IN PRIMORDIUMFORMATION." Plant Cell 6(10):1415-1426.

Matvienko, M., K. Vandesande, W. C. Yang, A. Vankammen, T. Bisselingand H. Franssen (1994). "COMPARISON OF SOYBEAN AND PEA ENOD40 CDNA CLONESREPRESENTING GENES EXPRESSED DURING BOTH EARLY AND LATE STAGES OF NODULEDEVELOPMENT."Plant MolecularBiology 26(1): 487-493.

Mylona, P., M. Moerman, W. C. Yang, T. Gloudemans, J.Vandekerckhove, A. Vankammen, T. Bisseling and H. J. Franssen (1994). "THEROOT EPIDERMIS-SPECIFIC PEA GENE RH2 IS HOMOLOGOUS TO A PATHOGENESIS-RELATEDGENE."Plant Molecular Biology 26(1):39-50.

Demaagd, R. A.,W. C. Yang, L. G. D. Roo, I. H. M. Mulders, H. P. Roest, H. P.Spaink, T. Bisseling and B. J. J. Lugtenberg (1994). "DOWN-REGULATION OFEXPRESSION OF THE RHIZOBIUM-LEGUMINOSARUM OUTER-MEMBRANE PROTEIN GENE ROPAOCCURS ABRUPTLY IN INTERZONE II-III OF PEA NODULES AND CAN BE UNCOUPLED FROMNIF GENE ACTIVATION." MolecularPlant-Microbe Interactions 7(2): 276-281.

Franssen, H., P. Mylona, K. Pawlowski, K.Vandesande, R. Heidstra, R. Geurts, A. Kozik, M. Matvienko, W. C. Yang, A. E. Hadri, F.Martinezabarca and T. Bisseling (1995). "PLANT GENES INVOLVED INROOT-NODULE DEVELOPMENT ON LEGUMES." PhilosophicalTransactions of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 350(1331):101-107.

Vijn, I., F. Martinezabarca, W. C. Yang, L. Dasneves, A. Vanbrussel,A. Vankammen and T. Bisseling (1995). "EARLY NODULIN GENE-EXPRESSIONDURING NOD FACTOR-INDUCED PROCESSES IN VICIA-SATIVA."Plant Journal 8(1): 111-119.

Vijn, I., W. C. Yang, N. Pallisgard, E. O. Jensen, A. Vankammen and T.Bisseling (1995). "VSENOD5, VSENOD12 AND VSENOD40 EXPRESSION DURINGRHIZOBIUM-INDUCED NODULE FORMATION ON VICIA-SATIVA ROOTS." Plant Molecular Biology 28(6):1111-1119.

Bisseling, T., H. Franssen, H. Hirt, M.Matvienko, K. Pawlowski, K. Van De Sande, R. Walden and W.-C. Yang (1995). "Reactivation of mitotic activity in rootcortical cells by rhizobium lipo-oligosaccharides." Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Supplement 0(19A): 129-129.

Brito, B., J. M. Palacios, J. Imperial, T.Ruizargueso, W. C. Yang, T.Bisseling, H. Schmitt, V. Kerl, T. Bauer, W. Kokotek and W. Lotz (1995)."TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL COEXPRESSION OF HYDROGENASE AND NITROGENASE GENESFROM RHIZOBIUM-LEGUMINOSARUM BV VICIAE IN PEA (PISUM-SATIVUM L)ROOT-NODULES." MolecularPlant-Microbe Interactions 8(2): 235-240.

Christiansen, H., A. C. Hansen, I. Vijn, N.Pallisgaard, K. Larsen, W. C. Yang,T. Bisseling, K. A. Marcker and E. O. Jensen (1996). "A novel type ofDNA-binding protein interacts with a conserved sequence in an early nodulinENOD12 promoter." Plant MolecularBiology 32(5): 809-821.

Heidstra, R., W. C. Yang, Y. Yalcin, S. Peck, A. M. Emons, A. vanKammen and T.Bisseling (1997). "Ethylene provides positional information on corticalcell division but is not involved in Nod factor-induced root hair tip growth inRhizobium-legume interaction." Development 124(9): 1781-1787.

Kumaran, M. K., D. Ye,W.-C. Yang, M. E. Griffith, A. M. Chaudhury and V. Sundaresan(1999). "Molecular cloning of ABNORMAL FLORAL ORGANS: A gene required forflower development in Arabidopsis." SexualPlant Reproduction 12(2): 118-122.

Parinov, S., M. Sevugan, D. Ye, W. C. Yang, M. Kumaran and V.Sundaresan (1999). "Analysis of flanking sequences from Dissociationinsertion lines: A database for reverse genetics in Arabidopsis." Plant Cell 11(12): 2263-2270.

Yang,W. C., D. Ye, J. Xu and V. Sundaresan (1999)."The SPOROCYTELESS gene of Arabidopsis is required for initiation ofsporogenesis and encodes a novel nuclear protein." Genes & Development 13(16): 2108-2117.

Yang,W. C. and V. Sundaresan (2000). "Genetics ofgametophyte biogenesis in Arabidopsis." Current Opinion in Plant Biology 3(1): 53-57.

Compaan, B., W. C. Yang, T. Bisseling and H. Franssen (2001). "ENOD40expression in the pericycle precedes cortical cell division in Rhizobium-legumeinteraction and the highly conserved internal region of the gene does notencode a peptide." Plant and Soil 230(1):1-8.

Wu, X. M., S. H. Lim and W. C. Yang (2003)."Characterization, expression and phylogenetic study of R2R3-MYB genes inorchid." Plant Molecular Biology 51(6):959-972.

Yang, S. L., L. F. Xiea, H. Z. Mao, C. S.Puah, W. C. Yang, L. X. Jiang, V.Sundaresan and D. Ye (2003). "TAPETUM DETERMINANT1 is required for cellspecialization in the Arabidopsis anther."Plant Cell 15(12): 2792-2804.

Jiang, L. X., S. L. Yang, L. F. Xie, C. S.Puah, X. Q. Zhang, W. C. Yang, V.Sundaresan and D. Ye (2005). "VANGUARD1 encodes a pectin methylesterasethat enhances pollen tube growth in the Arabidopsis style and transmittingtract." Plant Cell 17(2):584-596.

Li, X. B., X. P. Fan, X. L. Wang, L. Caiand W. C. Yang (2005). "Thecotton ACTIN1 gene is functionally expressed in fibers and participates infiber elongation." Plant Cell 17(3): 859-875.

Rotman, N., A. Durbarry, A. Wardle, W. C. Yang, A. Chaboud, J. E. Faure, F.Berger and D. Twell (2005). "A novel class of MYB factors controlssperm-cell formation in plants." CurrentBiology 15(3): 244-248.

Shi, D. Q., J. Liu, Y. H. Xiang, D. Ye, V.Sundaresan and W. C. Yang (2005)."SLOW WALKER1, essential for gametogenesis in Arabidopsis, encodes a WD40protein involved in 18S ribosomal RNA biogenesis." Plant Cell 17(8): 2340-2354.

Yang, S. L., L. X. Jiang, C. S. Puah, L. F.Xie, X. Q. Zhang, L. Q. Chen, W. C. Yangand D. Ye (2005). "Overexpression of TAPETUM DETERMINANT1 alters the cellfates in the Arabidopsis carpel and tapetum via genetic interaction with EXCESSMICROSPOROCYTES1/EXTRA SPOROGENOUS CELLS." Plant Physiology 139(1): 186-191.

Ye, D., W.-C. Yang, V. Sundaresan and J. Xu (2005). Control of sporocyte ormeiocyte formation in plants, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory Limited.

Song, X.-F., C.-Y. Yang, J. Liu andW.-C. Yang (2006). "RPA, a classII ARFGAP protein, activates ARF1 and U5 and plays a role in root hairdevelopment in Arabidopsis." PlantPhysiology 141(3): 966-976.

Ding, Y. H., N. Y. Liu, Z. S. Tang, J. Liuand W. C. Yang (2006)."Arabidopsis GLUTAMINE-RICH PROTEIN23 is essential for early embryogenesisand encodes a novel nuclear PPR motif protein that interacts with RNApolymerase II subunit III." PlantCell 18(4): 815-830.

Chen, Y.-H., X.-M. Wu, H.-Q. Ling and W.-C. Yang (2006). "Transgenicexpression of DwMYB2 impairs iron transport from root to shoot in Arabidopsisthaliana."Cell Research 16(10):830-840.

Meng, Z.-H., A.-H. Liang andW.-C. Yang (2007). "Effects ofhygromycin on cotton cultures and its application in Agrobacterium-mediatedcotton transformation." In Vitro Cellular & DevelopmentalBiology-Plant 43(2): 111-118.

Chen, Y.-H., H.-J. Li, D.-Q. Shi, L. Yuan,J. Liu, R. Sreenivasan, R. Baskar, U. Grossniklaus and W.-C. Yang (2007). "The central cell plays a critical role inpollen tube guidance in Arabidopsis." PlantCell 19(11): 3563-3577.

Escobar-Restrepo, J.-M., N. Huck, S.Kessler, V. Gagliardini, J. Gheyselinck, W.-C.Yang and U. Grossniklaus (2007). "The FERONIA receptor-like kinasemediates male-female interactions during pollen tube reception." Science 317(5838): 656-660.

Wang, F., D.-Q. Shi, J. Liu and W.-C. Yang (2008). "Novel nuclearprotein ALC-INTERACTING PROTEIN1 is expressed in vascular and mesocarp cells inArabidopsis." Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 50(7): 918-927.

Liu, N.-Y., Z.-F. Zhang and W.-C. Yang (2008). Isolation ofembryo-specific mutants in Arabidopsis - Genetic and phenotypic analysis.Methods in Molecular Biology. M. F.Suarez and P. V. Bozhkov. 427: 101-109.

Liu, M., L. Yuan, N.-Y. Liu, D.-Q. Shi, J.Liu and W.-C. Yang (2009)."GAMETOPHYTIC FACTOR 1, Involved in Pre-mRNA Splicing, Is Essential forMegagametogenesis and Embryogenesis in Arabidopsis." Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 51(3): 261-271.

Ruan, M.-B., Y.-T. Zhao, Z.-H. Meng, X.-J.Wang and W.-C. Yang (2009). "ConservedmiRNA analysis in Gossypium hirsutum through small RNA sequencing."Genomics 94(4): 263-268.

Xiao-ping, F. A. N., F. A. N. Bo-hong, X.U. Zi-qin and Y. Wei-cai (2009)."Cloning and Construction of GhcelA1 Gene in Cotton Fiber."Cotton Science 21(3): 236-242.

Li, N., L. Yuan, N. Liu, D. Shi, X. Li, Z.Tang, J. Liu, V. Sundaresan and W.-C.Yang (2009). "SLOW WALKER2, a NOC1/MAK21 Homologue, Is Essential forCoordinated Cell Cycle Progression during Female Gametophyte Development inArabidopsis." Plant Physiology 151(3):1486-1497.

Ruan, M.-B., Y.-T. Zhao, Z.-H. Meng, X.-J.Wang andW.-C. Yang (2009). "ConservedmiRNA analysis in Gossypium hirsutum through small RNA sequencing." Genomics 94(4): 263-268.

Deng, Y., H. Dong, J. Mu, B. Ren, B. Zheng,Z. Ji, W.-C. Yang, Y. Liang and J.Zuo (2010). "Arabidopsis Histidine Kinase CKI1 Acts Upstream of HISTIDINEPHOSPHOTRANSFER PROTEINS to Regulate Female Gametophyte Development andVegetative Growth." Plant Cell22(4): 1232-1248.

Liu, M., D.-Q. Shi, L. Yuan, J. Liu and W.-C. Yang (2010). "SLOW WALKER3,Encoding a Putative DEAD-box RNA Helicase, is Essential for FemaleGametogenesis in Arabidopsis."Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 52(9): 817-828.

Li, H.-J., N.-Y. Liu, D.-Q. Shi, J. Liu andW.-C. Yang (2010). "YAO is anucleolar WD40-repeat protein critical for embryogenesis and gametogenesis inArabidopsis."Bmc Plant Biology 10.

Yang,W.-C., D.-Q. Shi and Y.-H. Chen (2010). FemaleGametophyte Development in Flowering Plants. Annual Review of Plant Biology, Vol 61. S. Merchant, W. R. Briggsand D. Ort. 61: 89-108.

Yang,W.-C. and J. Wan (2011). "Transgenic Crops: AnOption for Future Agriculture." Journalof Integrative Plant Biology 53(7): 510-511.

Li, H.-J., Y. Xue, D.-J. Jia, T. Wang,D.-Q. Shi, J. Liu, F. Cui, Q. Xie, D. Ye and W.-C. Yang (2011). "POD1 Regulates Pollen Tube Guidance inResponse to Micropylar Female Signaling and Acts in Early Embryo Patterning inArabidopsis."Plant Cell 23(9):3288-3302.

Liu, W., W. Kohlen, A. Lillo, R. Op denCamp, S. Ivanov, M. Hartog, E. Limpens, M. Jamil, C. Smaczniak, K. Kaufmann, W.-C. Yang, G. J. E. J. Hooiveld, T.Charnikhova, H. J. Bouwmeester, T. Bisseling and R. Geurts (2011)."Strigolactone Biosynthesis in Medicago truncatula and Rice Requires theSymbiotic GRAS-Type Transcription Factors NSP1 and NSP2." Plant Cell 23(10): 3853-3865.

Shi, D.-Q. and W.-C. Yang (2011). "Ovule development in Arabidopsis: progressand challenge." Current Opinion inPlant Biology 14(1): 74-80.

Li, H.-J. and W.-C. Yang (2012). "Emerging role of ER quality control inplant cell signal perception."Protein & Cell 3(1): 10-16.

Wang, S.-Q., D.-Q. Shi, Y.-P. Long, J. Liuand W.-C. Yang (2012)."GAMETOPHYTE DEFECTIVE 1, a putative subunit of RNases P/MRP, is essentialfor female gametogenesis and male competence in Arabidopsis." PloS one7(4): e33595-e33595.

Zhao, Y.-T., M. Wang, S.-X. Fu, W.-C. Yang, C.-K. Qi and X.-J. Wang(2012). "Small RNA Profiling in Two Brassica napus Cultivars IdentifiesMicroRNAs with Oil Production- and Development-Correlated Expression and NewSmall RNA Classes." PlantPhysiology 158(2): 813-823.