从事玉米响应逆境与发育调控机制的研究，主要运用全基因组关联分析、遗传连锁分析，解析玉米耐盐性和氮高效利用形成的遗传基础、克隆玉米中重要的耐盐和氮高效利用基因；并利用分子生物学研究手段和方法，阐明基因在植物体内的生物学功能和作用机理；针对具有重要利用价值的耐盐基因，开发分子标记开或通过基因编辑的方法对玉米耐盐性进行有目标的遗传改良。此外，还从事作物营养强化作物新品种培育工作。

近年主持国家转基因重大专项1项、（2018ZX08009-16B），国家自然科学基金面上项目2项（31270318，32072068），国家重点研发项目任务1项（2021YFF1000300），国家973研究计划课题任务1项（2014CB138205），参与科技部重点研发项目、国家自然科学基金、863等项目10多项。发表论文46篇，以第一作者和通讯作者New phytologist, Plant Biotechnology Journal，Plant Physiology，Journal of Experimental Botany，BMC Genomics，Scientific Reports，Plant Molecular Biology等期刊发表SCI论文17篇，总影响因子74分，第一作者和通讯作者发表中文核心期刊13篇，参加出版著作2部（其中1部为副主编）；申请国家发明专利12项，其中获得第一发明人授权3项。

代表性成果：

1. Zhang M, Zheng H, Jin L, Xing L, Zou J, Zhang L, Liu C, Chu J, Xu M*, Wang L*. (2022). miR169o and ZmNF-YA13 act in concert to coordinate the expression of ZmYUC1 that determines seed size and weight in maize kernels. New Phytologist, doi: 10.1111/nph.18317.

2.Zhao B†, Xu M†, Zhao Y, Li Y, Xu H, Li C, Kong D, Xie Y, Zheng Z, Wang B*, and Wang H*. (2022). Overexpression of ZmSPL12 confers enhanced lodging resistance through transcriptional regulation of D1 in maize. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 20(4):622-624.

3.Xing L, Zhu M, Luan M, Zhang M, Jin L, Liu Y, Zou J, Wang L*, Xu M*. (2022). miR169q and NUCLEAR FACTOR YA8 enhance salt salt tolerance by activating PEROXIDASE1 expression in response to ROS. Plant Physiology, 188(1):608-623.

4.Zhang M, Xing L, Ren X, Zou J, Song F, Wang L*, Xu M*. (2021). Evidence of silk growth hampering in maize at high planting density using phenotypic and transcriptional analysis. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63796-6.

5.Dong Y, Wang Y, Jin F, Xing L, Fang Y, Zhang Z, Zou J, Wang L*, Xu M*. 2020. Differentially expressed miRNAs in anthers may contribute to the fertility of a novel Brassica napus genic male sterile line CN21A. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 19(7): 1731-1742

6.Li W, Hao Z, Pang J, Zhang M, Wang N, Li X, Li W, Wang L*, Xu M*. 2019. Effect of water-deficit on tassel development in maize. Gene, 10(681):86-92

7.Zhu M, Zhang M, Xing L, Li W, Jiang H, Wang L*, Xu M*. 2017. Transcriptomic analysis of long non-coding RNAs and coding genes uncovers a complex regulatory network that is involved in maize seed development. Genes, 8(10): 274

8.Xing L, Zhu M, Zhang M, Li W, Jiang H, Zou J, Wang L*, Xu M*. 2017.High- Throughput sequencing of small RNA transcriptomes in maize kernel identifies miRNAs involved in embryo and endosperm development. Genes, 8(12): 385

9.Zhang M, Hu X, Zhu M, Xu M*,Wang L*. 2017. Transcription factors NF-YA2 and NF-YA10 regulate leaf growth via auxin signaling in Arabidopsis. Scientific Reports, 7: 1395

10.Xu M, Lu Y, Yang H, He J, Hu Z, Hu X, Luan M, Zhang L, Fan Y, Wang L. 2015. ZmGRF, a GA regulatory factor from maize, promotes flowering and plant growth in Arabidopsis. Plant Molecular Biology, 87(1-2):157-167