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Jean YONG Wan Hong ('John')

 
Current Appointment Assistant Professor
 
Office NIE7-03-91
 
Telephone (65) 6790 3816
 
Fax (65) 6896 9414
 
Email jean.yong@nie.edu.sg
   
Academic Background B.Sc. (1992)
B.Sc.[Hons] (1993)
M.Sc. (1996) (National University of Singapore)
Ph.D (2001) (Australian National University)
 
Professional Organisations Australian Society of Plant Physiologists 
 
       
  Profile

A plant physiologist by training, his general research interests are in plant physiology, eco-physiology, environmental and conservational biology. Dr. Jean Yong started his formal scientific pursuit with Prof. Hew Choy Sin in the Department of Botany (now known as Dept. of Biological Sciences), National University of Singapore where he worked on photosynthesis, plant hormones, photoautotrophic micropropagation and carbon allocation in tropical orchids between 1992 and 1996. As a keen gardener and conservationist, Jean also spent time with Dr. Ian M. Turner (NParks) and Assoc. Prof. Hugh Tan (NUS) working on the conservation of local flora since 1990. After completing his M.Sc. in NUS with Prof. Hew, Jean moved on to Canberra, Australia in 1996 to broaden his scientific outlook and training. As a PhD student in the Environmental Biology Group at the Research School of Biological Sciences (part of the Australian National University), Jean worked on understanding plant growth in relation to the transport of chemical signals (in particular, cytokinins and abscisic acid) in plant vascular systems under different environmental conditions. While working on his Ph.D. project, he also received specialized training in plant gas exchange measurement techniques and instrumentation (Dr. S. Chin Wong and Dr. Jiří Santrůček), glasshouse design and environmental controls (Dr. Chin Wong), and analytical techniques (Dr. Charles Hocart and Dr. Beverly Henry). After completing his PhD degree in plant science with Prof. Graham D. Farquhar, Dr. Chin Wong and Emeritus Prof. D. Stuart Letham (Plant Cell Biology Group) in 2000, he was appointed as a Visiting Fellow in RSBS prior to returning to Singapore in 2001. Currently, Jean is in the process of settling up a global change science and eco-physiology lab in NIE-NTU. He managed to secure a research grant for three years to work on tropical mistletoes from Feb 2002 onwards


Mistletoe biology (under construction)
 

  
  Courses

Degree programme    (http://nieportal.nie.edu.sg/main.htm) 

CAB204  Diversity and Evolution of Plants
CAB202  Plant Physiology
BAB301  Ecological studies
BAB422  Plant Physiology
NAB503  Systematics and Evolution
CGE 186  Conservation and management of natural habitats (http://courses.nie.edu.sg) (for external students)
CEM101  Environmental Studies and Global Issues

Diploma/Advanced Diploma  Programme (http://nieportal.nie.edu.sg/main.htm)

EAB 101  Biodiversity in Natural Ecosystems 

INS 5101  Biodiversity and Ecology (http://courses.nie.edu.sg) (for external students)

INS 5102  Physiology and Biochemistry (http://courses.nie.edu.sg) (for external students)
ETS101  Selected topics in Primary Science (Biological Science)
MLS827  Earth's resources and responses to stress

In-service course

INS2001 Ecological studies for lower secondary science teachers (http://courses.nie.edu.sg) (for external students)
INS1001  Teaching Science through field trips (Primary)
 

  
  Research Interests

The physiological and molecular bases of how plants sense changes (such as humidity, temperature, CO2, gaseous pollutants, and soil properties) in their growing environment.
Plant hormones and synthetic growth regulators
Orchid and mistletoe biology
Photoautotrophic micropropagation
The use of stable (13C, 18O and 15N) and radioactive (3H and 14C) isotopes in life sciences
The conservation of endangered plants and natural habitats in South-East Asia
Environmental science education 

  
  Professional Activities Invited Paper Reviewer: Journal of Tropical Ecology; Plant Cell & Environment;
Invited Grant Reviewer: USDA, Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management, Small Business Innovation Research Program
US Fulbright Fellowship, Brown University, Providence, Rhodes Island
  		 
  Theses Supervised

In-vitro physiology of some tropical mistletoes. Ms. Sylvia Ang (M. Sc. student), and with support from A/P C. S. Loh (Dept. Biological Sciences, NUS).
Developing a CE approach towards the analyses of purine (cytokinin) compounds. Ms. Ge Liya (Ph.D. student), jointly with A/P Tan Swee Ngin.
Why are some raintrees in Singapore yellow? - A physiological perspective.
Mr. Wong Choon Ming (M.Sc. student), jointly with A/P Hugh Tan (Dept. Biological Sciences, NUS) and with support from the National Parks Board.
Acanthus taxa in Singapore, Ms. Sharon Sim (B.Sc.[Hons] student), jointly with A/P Hugh Tan (Dept. Biological Sciences, NUS) (Completed 2001).
Why are some raintrees in Singapore yellow? Mr. Wong Choon Ming (B.Sc.[Hons] student), jointly with A/P Hugh Tan (Dept. Biological Sciences, NUS) and with support from the National Parks Board. (Completed 2002).
 

  
  Conferences

2001   Annual meeting of Australian Society of Plant Physiologist. Canberra, Australia.

2000   Plant form and function: adaptations to stress. A symposium honouring Professor John Pate and his contributions to plant ecology and physiology. Perth, Australia.

1999   Second international symposium for auxins and cytokinins. Prague, Czech Republic.

1998   Annual meeting of Australian Society of Plant Physiologist. Adelaide, Australia.

1996   Annual meeting of Australian Society of Plant Physiologist. Canberra, Australia.

1995   International conference on the transport of photoassimilates. Canterbury, U. K.

  
 

Selected Publications

    
       
 

Functional Plant Biology (principal interest)

  1. Gan K.S., Wong S.C., Yong J.W.H. and Farquhar G.D. 2003. Evaluation of models of leaf water 18O enrichment using measurements of spatial patterns of vein xylem, leaf water and dry matter in maize leaves. Plant Cell & Environment, in the press.
  2. Yong J.W.H., Lim E.Y.C. and Hew C.S. 2002. Can we use elevated carbon dioxide to increase productivity in the orchid industry?  Malayan Orchid Review, 36: 75-81.
  3. Gan K.S., Wong S.C., Yong J.W.H. and Farquhar G.D. 2002. 18O spatial patterns of vein xylem water, leaf water and dry matter in cotton leaves. Plant Physiology, 2002 130: 1008-1021.
  4. Tantikanjana, T., Yong J.W.H., Letham D.S., Griffith M., Hussain M., Ljung K., Sandberg G. and Sundaresan V. 2001. Control of  axillary bud initiation and shoot architecture in Arabidopsis by the SUPERSHOOT gene.  Genes & Development, 15: 1577-1588.
  5. Yong J.W.H., Wong S.C., Letham D.S., Hocart C.H. and Farquhar G.D. 2000. Effects of elevated [CO2] and nitrogen nutrition on  cytokinins in the xylem sap and leaves of cotton. Plant Physiology, 124: 767-779
  6. Turner I.M., Lucas P.W., Becker P., Wong S.C., Yong J.W.H., Choong M.F. and Tyree M.T. 1999. Tree leaf form in Brunei: a heath and mixed dipterocarp forest compared.  Biotropica, 32: 53-61.
  7. Hew C.S., Yong J.W.H. and Clifford P.E. 1998. Increasing orchid cut-flower production by manipulating assimilates partitioning.  Asian Journal of Tropical Biology, 2: 1-7.
  8. Yong J.W.H., Wong S.C. and Farquhar G.D. 1997. Stomatal responses to changes in vapour pressure difference between leaf and air.  Plant Cell & Environment, 20: 1213-1216.
  9. Gouk S.S., Yong J.W.H. and Hew C.S. 1997. Effects of super-elevated [CO2] on the growth and carboxylating enzymes in an epiphytic CAM orchid plantlet. Journal of Plant Physiology, 151: 129-136. 
  10. Hew C.S. and Yong J.W.H. 1997. The physiology of tropical orchids in relation to the industry. World Scientific Press. ISBN 981-02-2855-4. 341 pages.
  11. Hew C.S., Ng C.K.Y., Gouk S.S., Yong J.W.H. and Wong, S.C. 1996. Variation in d13C values for different plant parts of an Oncidium orchid. Photosynthetica, 32: 135-139.
  12. Yong J.W.H. and Hew C.S. 1995. The importance of photoassimilate contribution from the current shoot and connected back shoots to inflorescence size in the thin-leaved sympodial orchid Oncidium Goldiana. International Journal of  Plant Sciences, 156: 450-459.6.
  13. Hew C.S., Hin S.E., Yong J.W.H., Gouk S.S. and Tanaka M. 1995. In-vitro [CO2] enrichment of CAM orchid plantlets. Journal of Horticultural Science, 70:721-736.
  14. Yong J.W.H. and Hew C.S. 1995. The patterns of photoassimilate partitioning within connected shoots for the thin-leaved sympodial orchid Oncidium Goldiana during different growth stages. Lindleyana, 10: 92-108.
  15. Zhang N.G., Yong J.W.H., Hew C.S. and Zhou X. 1995. The production of cytokinins, abscisic acid and auxin by CAM orchid aerial roots. Journal of  Plant Physiology, 147: 371-377.
  16. Hew C.S. and Yong J.W.H. 1994. Growth and photosynthesis of Oncidium Goldiana. Journal of Horticultural Science, 69: 809-819.

Plant biodiversity of South-East Asia (Other interests)

  1. Sheue C.-R., Liu H.-Y. and Yong J.W.H. 2003. Kandelia obovata (Rhizophoraceae), a new mangrove species from Eastern Asia. Taxon, in press.
  2. Foo J.M.Y, Ang S. L.P. and Yong J.W.H. 2003. Magical mistletoes.  Nature Watch, 11: 2-5.
  3. Turner I.M. and Yong J.W.H. 1999. The coastal vegetation of Singapore. In: C. Briffett and H.C. Ho (eds.), State of the Natural Environment in Singapore. Nature Society of Singapore, pp. 5-23.
  4. Yong J.W.H. 1998. Seeding a dream.  Nature Watch, 6: 4-9.
  5. Turner I.M., Yong J.W.H., Zainudin Ismail A. and Latiff A. 1997. The botany of the islands of Mersing district, Johore. I. The plants and vegetation of Pulau Tinggi.  Gardens Bulletin, 49: 119-141.
  6. Tan H.T.W., Choong M.F., Chua K.S., Loo A.H.B., Ahmad S., Seah E.E.L., Turner I.M. and Yong J.W.H. 1997. A botanical survey of Sungei Buloh Nature Park, Singapore. Gardens Bulletin, 49: 15-35.
  7. Turner I.M., Tan H.T.W. and Yong J.W.H. 1995. Additional records for the Flora of Ulu Kinchin, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal, 49: 59-63.
  8. Turner I.M., Tan H.T.W. and Yong J.W.H. 1995. Notes on two interesting botanical finds in Temengor Forest Reserve, Hulu Perak, Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal, 48: 197-200.
  9. Turner I.M., Tan H.T.W. and Yong J.W.H. 1995. The Limestone Flora of Temengor, Hulu Perak, Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal, 48: 189-196.
  10. Yong J.W.H. and Hew C.S. 1995. A report of mistletoes on pigeon orchid in Singapore. Lindleyana, 10: 131-132. 
  
     

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