自2000年以来主要从事植物抗病、抗逆分子生物学、外来入侵植物分子机制的研究。主持国家自然基金3项；863计划研究课题任务1项；主持和合作主持国家转基因植物研究与产业化项目2项。参加973项目2项。
主要成果：
1998年以来发表论文共30余篇。参与编书3本。指导培养研究生16名（国际留学生3名）, 其中毕业12人（国际留学生2名）。
主要履历及经历：
1996年中国农业科学院研究生院生物物理专业获博士学位； 1998至今在中国农业科学院生物技术所工作。 其中2002-2004在美国俄亥州立大学园艺系从事博士后研究。
研究领域：
植物抗病、抗逆分子生物学。
发表论文：
1.Xiliang Qi, Xiaofeng Su, HuimingGuo, Juncang Qi, Hongmei Cheng*. VdThit, a Thiamine Transport Protein, Is Required for Pathogenicity of the Vascular Pathogen Verticillium dahlia. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions,2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/. 2.Xiliang Qi, Xiaofeng Su, HuimingGuo, Juncang Qi, Hongmei Cheng*. A ku70 null mutant improves gene targeting frequency in the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahlia. World J MicrobiolBiotechnol, 2015, 31:1889–1897. 3.Xiliang Qi, Xiaofeng Su, Guoqing Lu, Guohui Ming, Cunxi Liu, Gemei Liang, Hongmei Cheng*.The effect of silencing arginine kinase byRNAi on the larval development ofHelicoverpaarmigera. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 2015, 105, 555–565. 4.LijiangGu, Hongmei Cheng*. Isolation, molecular cloning and characterization of a cold responsive gene, AmDUF1517, from Ammopiptanthusmongolicus. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult, 2014, 117:201–211. 5.Xiaofeng Su, Xiliang Qi, Hongmei Cheng*. Molecular cloning and characterization of enhanced disease susceptibility 1 (EDS1) from Gossypiumbarbadense. MolBiol Rep, 2014, 41: 3821–3828. 6.HuimingGuo, Zhaochun Li, Meiliang Zhou, Hongmei Cheng*. cDNA-AFLP analysis reveals heat shock proteins play important roles in mediating cold, heat, and drought tolerance in Ammopiptanthusmongolicus. FunctIntegr Genomics, 2014, 14: 127–133. 7.HuimingGuo, Guoqing Lu?, Xiaofeng Su, Gemei Liang, Chenxi Liu, Hongmei Cheng*. Up-regulated death-associated LIM-only protein contributes to fitness costs of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac resistance in Helicoverpaarmigera. J insect physiol, 2014, 60: 145-152. 8.Lijuan Chen, HuimingGuo, Yi Lin, Yulun Wu and Hongmei Cheng. Molecular cloning and characterization of the cinnamate 4-hydroxylase gene from Eupatorium adenophorum. Weed BiolManag, doi:10.1111/wbm.12044 9.LijiangGu, Han Zhang, HuimingGuo, Hongmei Cheng*. Cloning of Ammopiptanthusmongolicus C-repeat-binding factor Gene and Its Cold-induced Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco. Braz. Arch. Biol. Technol, 2013, 56(6): 895-903. 10.Li C, Rudi H, Stockinger EJ, Cheng H, Cao M, Fox SE, Mockler TC, Westereng B, Fjellheim S, Rognli OA, Sandve SR. Comparative analyses reveal potential uses of Brachypodiumdistachyon as a model for cold stress responses in temperate grasses. BMC Plant Biol., 2012 doi: 10.1186/1471-2229-12-65. 11.Xixiang Pei, HuimingGuo?, Fanghao Wan, Hongmei Cheng*. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase genes' response to HHO in Eupatorium adenophorum. Weed BiolManag, 2012, 12(4): 177–182. 12.Guo H, Pei X, Wan F, Cheng H*.Molecular cloning of allelopathy related genes and their relation to HHO in Eupatorium adnophorum.Mol Bio Rep, 2011, 38(7): 4651-4656. 13.Guo H, Zhang Y, Wan F, Cheng H*. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Eupatorium adenophorum.Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult, 2010, 103: 417-422. 14.Knox AK, Dhillon T, Cheng H, Tondelli A, Pecchioni N, Stockinger EJ. CBF gene copy number variation at Frost Resistance-2 is associated with levels of freezing tolerance in temperate-climate cereals. TheorAppl Genet. 2010 , 121(1): 21-35.