基本介绍

蔡高潮，中山大学“百人计划”副教授，硕士生导师（生态学，学术硕士；资源利用与植物保护，专业硕士），毕业于德国波恩大学，获工学博士学位。研究领域为土壤与植物水力，研究聚焦于干旱胁迫下植物的水分吸收和土壤与植物的水分关系，先后在田间、植物和根际尺度上，利用原位观测和模型模拟，在“吸水过程预测-干旱胁迫响应-水力调整适应”三个方面展开了较为系统性的研究。其中，在吸水过程预测方面，利用先进的无损观测技术和模拟工具，预测作物在不同条件下的水分吸收过程，为智能灌溉提供科学依据。在干旱胁迫响应方面，研究作物在干旱胁迫下的水分利用策略和生理响应，揭示其应对干旱的生理机制。在水力调整适应方面，探讨作物在长期水力调节中的适应性变化，帮助培育更具抗逆性的作物品种。主要研究成果发表在PP、PCE、JXB、PJ、HESS、VZJ等植物学、水文水资源和土壤学top期刊上。

在日益干旱的世界里，植物如何“喝到水”、“保住水”、“巧用水”，是关乎我们饭碗和未来的大问题。如果你对从土壤到植物全程追踪“水之旅”的奥秘心怀向往，对破解植物的生存智慧充满好奇，对解决全球性旱灾挑战充满热情，我期待与你探讨，无论你是本科生、硕士生、还是博士后，欢迎加入课题组（请发送自荐信/简历到caigch3@mail.sysu.edu.cn）。

更多信息见学术网站：Research Gate     Google Scholar     ORCID

 

CAI, Gaochao, "100 Top Talents Program" Associate Professor at Sun Yat-sen University, Master's Supervisor (Ecology, Academic Degree; Resource Utilization and Plant Protection, Professional Degree). I graduated from the University of Bonn, Germany, with a Ph.D. in Engineering. My research field is soil and plant hydraulics, with a specific focus on plant water uptake and soil-plant water relations under drought stress. Utilizing in-situ observations and model simulations, I have conducted systematic research across the field, plant, and rhizosphere scales, centering on three core aspects: "prediction of water uptake processes, response to drought stress, and hydraulic adjustment and adaptation."

  1. Prediction of water uptake processes: I utilize advanced non-destructive observation technologies and simulation tools to forecast crop water absorption under various conditions, providing a scientific basis for smart irrigation.
  2. Response to drought stress: I investigate crop water-use strategies and physiological responses to drought to uncover the mechanisms underlying drought resistance.
  3. Hydraulic adjustment and adaptation: I explore the adaptive changes in crops under long-term hydraulic regulation, thereby aiding the breeding of more stress-resilient crop varieties.

My primary research findings have been published in top botany, hydrology, water resources, and soil science journals, including PP, PCE, JXB, PJ, HESS, and VZJ. 

In an increasingly arid world, how plants "drink water," "retain water," and "utilize water efficiently" is a critical issue for our food security and our future. If you are fascinated by the mysteries of tracking the "water journey" from soil to plant, curious about deciphering the survival wisdom of plants, and passionate about tackling the global challenge of drought, I look forward to discussing these topics with you. Whether you are an undergraduate, master student, or postdoctoral researcher, you are warmly welcome to join our research group (please send your cover letter/CV to caigch3@mail.sysu.edu.cn ). For more information, please visit my academic profiles: Research Gate, Google Scholar, ORCID

 

 

研究方向

土壤-植物的水分关系：

  1. 植物水分吸收的多因子互作与协同调控机制

  2. 土壤-植物水力系统多尺度建模与反演应用

  3. 植物水力和表型层面抗逆品种优化和选育

  4. 田间水分运移的智能模拟与精准调控系统

Research Directions

Soil-Plant Water Relations:

  1. Multi-factor interactions and synergistic regulation mechanisms of plant water uptake.
  2. Multi-scale modeling and inverse applications in soil-plant hydraulic systems.
  3. Optimization and breeding of stress-resistant crop varieties at the plant hydraulic and phenotypic levels.
  4. Intelligent simulation and precise regulation systems for field water movement.

 

 

课题组长期招聘博士后

条件：

  1. 在土壤水分运动，植物对干旱响应、调整和适应，植物不同性状和根系特征对水分生理的影响等方面有研究基础

  2. 获得博士学位不超过3年，具备较高的学术水平和较强的科研能力的海内外优秀博士和应届博士生。

待遇：

  1. 中山大学博士后按照学校教职员工管理，聘期一般为2~3年。

  2. 提供在同类院校中有竞争力的待遇， 同时提供五险一金/人才周转房/医疗/附属学校子女教育等福利。

  3. 出站博士后可直接申请中山大学教学研究并重系列教师预聘职位；

  4. 若出站博士后选择在深圳签订三年期的劳动合同，将有资格申请深圳市博士后留深生活补助；
    博士后可依托中山大学农生学院申报“逸仙博士后”项目（https://ab.sysu.edu.cn/zh-hans/article/416）。
    注：相关政策的变动将严格遵循广东省、深圳市的相关文件规定。

Postdoctoral Recruitment
Requirements:

  1. A solid research background in soil water movement, plant responses, adjustments, and adaptations to drought, or the impact of different plant traits and root characteristics on water physiology.
  2. Outstanding doctoral graduates (from domestic or overseas institutions) or recent Ph.D. candidates who have obtained their degree within the last 3 years, demonstrating a high academic standard and strong scientific research capabilities.

Benefits:

  1. Postdoctoral researchers at Sun Yat-sen University are managed as university faculty and staff, with a general employment period of 2 to 3 years.
  2. We provide competitive remuneration compared to peer institutions, along with benefits including the "five insurances and one housing fund" (social insurance and housing provident fund), talent transition housing, medical care, and children's education at affiliated schools.
  3. Upon completion of the postdoctoral program, candidates can directly apply for pre-tenure track positions within the teaching and research series at Sun Yat-sen University.
  4. If postdocs choose to sign a three-year labor contract in Shenzhen after completing their program, they will be eligible to apply for the Shenzhen Postdoctoral Living Subsidy.
  5. Postdoctoral researchers can apply for the "Yat-sen Postdoctoral Fellowship" program through the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology at Sun Yat-sen University (https://ab.sysu.edu.cn/zh-hans/article/416).

Note: Any changes in relevant policies will strictly follow the official documents and regulations of Guangdong Province and Shenzhen Municipality.

 

 

教育经历

2012.09 – 2018.01，德国波恩大学（University of Bonn），德国亥姆赫兹联合会于利希研究中心 (FZJ) ，博士

2009.09 – 2012.06，华中农业大学，资源与环境学院，硕士

2005.09 – 2009.06，湖北工业大学，生物工程学院，学士

Education

Sep. 2012 – Jan. 2018: Ph.D., University of Bonn / Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ, Helmholtz Association), Germany

Sep. 2009 – Jun. 2012: Master Degree, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University

Sep. 2005 – Jun. 2009: Bachelor Degree, School of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology

 

 

工作经历

2024.04  - 至今，      中山大学，农业与生物技术学院，副教授

2022.07 - 2024.03，中山大学，农学院，副教授

2018.03 – 2022.05，德国拜罗伊特大学 (University of Bayreuth) ，博士后

2018.03 – 2021.02，德国哥廷根大学 (University of Göttingen) ，博士后

Work Experience

Apr. 2024 – Present: Associate Professor, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Sun Yat-sen University

Jul. 2022 – Mar. 2024: Associate Professor, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University

Mar. 2018 – May 2022: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Bayreuth, Germany

Mar. 2018 – Feb. 2021: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Göttingen, Germany

 

 

科研成果

发表论文 (*通讯作者，#共同作者)

  1. When do root hairs matter for water uptake? Root hair traits to enhance plant water use and drought resilience under contrasting soil textures. 

    Cai G*, Liu S, Sha S, Zhou W, Ahmed MA*. (2026) 

    Crop and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crope.2026.100120

  2. Nitrogen Input Alters Root Exudate Profiles and Nitrification Inhibition in Teosinte and Maize. 

    Liu S, Wang Y, Zhu L, Im J-H, Lee D-S, Rhee S-K, Yang Z, Jung M-Y*, Cai G*, Duan C* (2026) 

    Plant, Cell & Environment. doi: 10.1111/pce.70390

  3. Maize root mucilage alters stomatal responses to soil and atmospheric drought: implications for plant water use. 

    Cai G#, Akale A#, Diamantopoulos E, Leuther F, Kersting L, McAdam S, Liu S, Ahmed MA (2025) 

    Plant Physiology, kiaf510. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaf510

  4. On the importance of rhizosphere conductance and soil–root contact in drying soils. 

    Koch A#, Cai G*, #, Ahmed MA, Meunier F, Carminati A, Vanderborght J, Javaux M* (2025) 

    Annals of Botany, mcaf082, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaf082. 

  5. Roots to the rescue: how plants harness hydraulic redistribution to survive drought across contrasting soil textures. 

    Sha S, Cai G*, Liu S*, Ahmed MA (2024) 

    Advanced Biotechnology 2 (43) https://doi.org/10.1007/s44307-024-00050-8.

  6. Soil-plant hydraulics explain stomatal efficiency-safety tradeoff. 

    Cai G, Carminati A, Gleason S, Javaux M, Ahmed MA* (2023) 

    Plant, Cell & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14536

  7. How the interactions between atmospheric and soil drought affect the functionality of plant hydraulics. 

    Cai G#, Wankmüller F#, Ahmed MA, Carminati A* (2023) 

    Plant, Cell & Environment 46: 733-735.

  8. Transpiration response to soil drying and vapor pressure deficit is soil texture specific. 

    Cai G, König M, Carminati A, Abdalla M, Javaux M, Wankmüller F, Ahmed MA* (2022) 

    Plant and Soil 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05818-2 （ESI高被引论文）

  9. Root hydraulic phenotypes impacting water uptake in drying soils. 

    Cai G, Ahmed MA, Abdalla M, Carminati A* (2022) 

    Plant, Cell & Environment 45: 650–663（ESI高被引论文；ESI热点论文；主编对此文进行了详细介绍）

  10. Quantification of root water uptake and redistribution using neutron imaging: a review and future directions. 

    Cai G, Tötzke C, Kaestner A, Ahmed MA* (2022) 

    The Plant Journal 111: 348–359 

  11. The role of root hairs in water uptake: recent advances and future perspectives. 

    Cai G, Ahmed MA* (2022) 

    Journal of Experimental Botany 73: 3330–3338  

  12. Soil textures rather than root hairs dominate water uptake and soil–plant hydraulics under drought. 

    Cai G, Carminati A, Abdalla M, Ahmed MA* (2021) 

    Plant Physiology 187: 858–872 

  13. Stomatal closure of tomato under drought is driven by an increase in soil–root hydraulic resistance. 

    Abdalla M*, Carminati A, Cai G*, Javaux M, Ahmed MA (2021) 

    Plant, Cell & Environment 44: 425–431

  14. Linear relation between leaf xylem water potential and transpiration in pearl millet during soil drying. 

    Cai G*, Ahmed MA, Dippold MA, Zarebanadkouki M, Carminati A (2020) 

    Plant and Soil 447: 565–578

  15. Measurement of leaf xylem water potential and transpiration during soil drying using a root pressure chamber system. 

    Cai G*, Ahmed MA, Reth S, Reiche M, Kolb A, Carminati A (2020) 

    Acta Horticulturae 1300: 131–138  

  16. Root growth, water uptake, and sap flow of winter wheat in response to different soil water conditions. 

    Cai G*, Vanderborght J, Langensiepen M, Schnepf A, Hüging H, Vereecken H (2018) 

    Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 22: 2449–2470

  17. Parameterization of Root Water Uptake Models Considering Dynamic Root Distributions and Water Uptake Compensation. 

    Cai G*, Vanderborght J, Couvreur V, Mboh CM, Vereecken H (2018) 

    Vadose Zone Journal 17: 1-21 (160125) （ESI高被引论文）

  18. Construction of Minirhizotron Facilities for Investigating Root Zone Processes. 

    Cai G*, Vanderborght J, Klotzsche A, van der Kruk J, Neumann J, Hermes N, Vereecken H (2016) 

    Vadose Zone Journal 15: 1-13 (封面论文，美国农学会和美国土壤学会对此系统进行了报道)

     

    合作论文：

  19. Unraveling the impact of environmental factors on wheat yield across the European Union via explainable machine learning. 

    Zhou W, Zhou W; Cammarano D; Butterbach-Bahl K, Olesen J; Lin Z, Huang T, Cai G, Zhang J, Qiu J, Wang S. 

    Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2025, 241

  20.  Physio-biochemical regulation of drought resistance in tree species within dryland plantations. 

    He N, Gao X*, Cai G, Zhou S, Jiang P, Yang M, Zhao L, Cai Y, Zhao X (2025)

    Plant Physiology 199 (1), kiaf384

  21. Collaborative roles of soil and plant hydraulic resistances in plant water transport: insights from modeling and data synthesis. 

    Lei G, Zeng W*, Cai G (2025) 

    Journal of Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134495 

  22. Influence of parent material and land use on abiotic N2O production following NH2OH and NO2- addition. 

    Li S, Gan C, Cai D, Ma J,  Cai G, Liu S* (2025).

    Geoderma Regional, 41.

  23. Mucilage facilitates root water uptake under edaphic stress: first evidence at the plant scale. 

    Abdalla M, Carminati, Cai G, Ahmed MA* (2024) 

    Annals of Botany, mcae193

  24. Coupled effects of soil drying and salinity on soil–plant hydraulics. 

    Abdalla M, Ahmed MA, Cai G, Zarebanadkauki M, Carminati A (2022) 

    Plant Physiology 190: 1228-1241

  25. Stomatal closure during water deficit is controlled by below-ground hydraulics. 

    Abdalla M, Ahmed MA, Cai G, Wankmüller F, Schwartz N, Litig O, Javaux M, Carminati A (2022) 

    Annals of Botany 129: 161–170 （ESI高被引论文）

  26. Root architecture development in stony soils. 

    Morandage S, Vanderborght J, Zörner M, Cai G, Leitner D, Vereecken H, Schnepf A (2021) 

    Vadose Zone Journal 20: e20133

  27. Stomatal closure prevents the drop in soil water potential around roots. 

    Carminati A, Ahmed MA, Zarebanadkouki M, Cai G, Lovric G, Javaux M (2020) 

    New Phytologist 226: 1541–1543

  28. Transpiration Reduction in Maize (Zea mays L) in Response to Soil Drying. 

    Hayat F, Ahmed MA, Zarebanadkouki M, Javaux M, Cai G, Carminati A (2020) 

    Frontiers in Plant Science 10, 1695

  29. Measurements and simulation of leaf xylem water potential and root water uptake in heterogeneous soil water contents. 

    Hayat F, Ahmed MA, Zarebanadkouki M, Cai G, Carminati A (2019) 

    Advances in Water Resources 124: 96–105

  30. Incorporating a root water uptake model based on the hydraulic architecture approach in terrestrial systems simulations. 

    Sulis M, Couvreur V, Keune J, Cai G, Trebs I, Junk J, Shrestha P, Simmer C, Kollet SJ, Vereecken H (2019) 

    Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 269: 28–45

  31. Monitoring Soil Water Content Using Time-Lapse Horizontal Borehole GPR Data at the Field-Plot Scale. 

    Klotzsche A, Lärm L, Vanderborght J, Cai G, Morandage S, Zörner M, Vereecken H, van der Kruk J (2019) 

    Vadose Zone Journal 18: 190044

  32. The role of UV-B radiation and precipitation on straw decomposition and topsoil C turnover. 

    Liu S, Hu R, Cai G, Lin S, Zhao J, Li Y (2014) 

    Soil Biology and Biochemistry 77: 197–202

  33. Flooding effects on soil phenol oxidase activity and phenol release during rice straw decomposition. 

    Liu S, Hu R, Zhao J, Brüggemann N, Bol R, Cai G, Lin S, Shaaban M (2014) 

    Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 177: 541–547

 

 

专利申请

蔡高潮，柳淑蓉，周望. 一种植物根系分布和水分运动的观测装置及其工作方法. 专利申请号: 202410955519.9

Cai G, Hu R, Liu S. A system used for the treatment of southern rural domestic sewage. 一种南方农村生活污水处理系统的装置及其方法。专利授权号: CN102491520B.

 

 

科研项目

国家自然科学基金面上项目，2024-2027，50万，主持
广东省自然科学基金面上项目，2024-2026，15万，主持
中山大学“百人计划”科研启动项目，2022-2025，60万，主持

 

 

学术会议

2025. Soil-plant hydraulics explain stomatal efficiency-safety tradeoff. The European Geosciences Union conference (EGU), Vienna, Austria.

2024. Root hydraulic phenotypes impacting water uptake. Frontier forum on global change ecology. Beijing, China.

2024. Root hydraulic phenotypes impacting water uptake in drying soils. G. Cai, M. Ahmed, M. Abdalla, A. Carminati. The 4th  International Soil Modeling Consortium (ISMC) Conference, Tianjin, China.

2019. Measurement of leaf xylem water potential and transpiration during soil drying using a root pressure chamber system. G. Cai, M. Ahmed, S. Reth, M. Reiche, A. Kolb, and A. Carminati. International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), Helsinki, Finland.

2019. Leaf water potential and transpiration rates of pearl millet during soil drying. G. Cai, M. Ahmed, A. Carminati. The European Geosciences Union conference (EGU), Vienna, Austria.

2016. Parameterization of root water uptake models that consider dynamic root distributions and compensation. G. Cai, J. Vanderborght, V. Couvreur, C. Mboh, M. Javaux, and H. Vereecken. Kirkham Conference, Sede Boqer, Israel.

2015. Comparisons of two root water uptake models based on field observations. G. Cai, J. Vanderborght, V. Couvreur, C. Mboh, M. Javaux, and H. Vereecken. Rhizosphere 4, Maastricht, Netherlands.

2015. Simulations and field observations of root water uptake in plots with different soil water availability. G. Cai, J. Vanderborght, V. Couvreur, M. Javaux, and H. Vereecken. The European Geosciences Union conference (EGU), Vienna, Austria

2014. Effects of soil water availability on water fluxes in winter wheat. G. Cai, J. Vanderborght, M. Langensiepen, and H. Vereecken. The American Geophysical Union (AGU), San Francisco, U.S.A.

2013. The impact of soil water distribution on root growth and root water uptake. G. Cai, J. Vanderborght, and H. Vereecken. TR32-HOBE International Symposium, Bonn, Germany.

 

学术兼职

《Crop and Environment》和《土壤学报》青年编委；

中国土壤学会土壤物理专业委员会委员；
第四届土壤模拟国际会议ISMC分会场召集人；
担任Nature Communications, New Phytologist, Plant physiology, Plant, Cell & Environment (PCE),  Journal of Experimental Botany (JXB), Plant Methods, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS), European Journal of Soil Science (EJSS),  Field Crops Research, Plant and Soil, Soil & Tillage Research, Journal of Hydrology, Vadose Zone Journal (VZJ), Agriculture Water Management, Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems (JAMES) 植物学、水文学和土壤学等10多个国际期刊审稿人.