刘庆昌一直从事甘薯细胞工程和分子育种研究，先后主持国家“863”、自然科学基金、科技攻关及教育部各类基金、国际合作项目21项。

通过这些项目：

(1)建立了甘薯及其近缘野生种的细胞组织培养有效植株再生体系和原生质体培养植株再生体系；

(2)建立了甘薯及其近缘野生种的体细胞杂交技术体系，首次获得甘薯组种间体细胞杂种植株；

(3)首次建立了甘薯细胞水平辐射技术体系并获得数个甘薯优异突变体；

(4)首次将甘薯胚性悬浮细胞应用于甘薯基因工程研究，大大提高了甘薯遗传转化效率；

(5)初步建立了甘薯茎线虫病抗性等性状的分子标记；

(6)探明了低倍体种间杂种与甘薯杂交低结实的原因，选育出高产、高淀粉含量、高抗病的甘薯新材料。

先后主持国家“863”、国家自然科学基金、国家科技支撑计划、国际合作项目等近30项，现为国家甘薯产业技术体系生物技术育种岗位科学家。

国家甘薯产业技术体系遗传改良研究室主任、育种技术与方法岗位科学家（2008-2020, 910万元）

国家自然科学基金国际合作项目“全球甘薯种质资源遗传多样性分析及重要基因资源发掘”（2015-2019, 80万元）

北京市教委项目“甘薯抗旱基因克隆及功能鉴定”（2016, 50万元）

发表学术论文150余篇，其中SCI收录30余篇，其代表论文有：

[1] Liu QC* (2017): Improvement for agronomically important traits by gene engineering in sweetpotato. Breeding Science, 67(1): 15-26

[2] Zhang H, Zhang Q, Zhai H, Li Y, Wang XF, Liu QC* & He SZ* (2017):Transcript profile analysis reveals important roles of jasmonic acid signalling pathway in the response of sweet potato to salt stress.Scientific Reports, 7:40819

[3] Li Y, Wang YN, Zhang H, Zhang Q, Zhai H, Liu QC* & He SZ* (2017): The plasma membrane-localized sucrose transporter IbSWEET10 contributes to the resistance of sweet potato to Fusarium oxysporum. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2017, 10.3389

[4] Shirasawa* K, Tanaka M , Takahata Y, Ma DF, Cao QH, Liu QC, Zhai H, Kwak SS, Jeong JC, Yoon UH, Lee HU, Hirakawa H & Isobe S (2017): A high-density SNP genetic map consisting of a complete set of homologous groups in autohexaploid sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas). Scientific Reports, 7:44207

[5] Jia LC, Zhai H, He SZ Yang YF & Liu QC* (2017): Analysis of drought tolerance and genetic and epigenetic variations in a somatic hybrid between Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. andI.triloba L. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 2017, 16(1): 36-46

[6] Zhang H, Zhang Q, Wang YN, Li Y, Zhai H, Liu QC & He SZ* (2017):Characterization of salt tolerance and fusarium wilt resistance of a sweetpotato mutant. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 2017, 16(0): 60345-7

[7] Wang YN, Li Y, Zhang H,Zhai H, Liu QC* & He SZ* (2017): A soluble starch synthase I gene, IbSSI, alters the content, composition, granule size and structure of starch in transgenic sweet potato. Scientific Reports (in press)

[8] Ren ZT, Zhao HY, He SZ, Zhai H, Zhao N & LIU QC* (2017): Overexpression of IbSnRK1 enhances nitrogen uptake and carbon assimilation in transgenic sweetpotato. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 2017 (in press)

[9] Meng YS, Zhao N, Li H, Zhai H, He SZ & Liu QC* (2017): SSR fingerprinting of 203 sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] varieties. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 2017 (in press)

[10]翟红，何绍贞，赵宁，刘庆昌*（2017）：甘薯生物技术育种研究进展。江苏师范大学学报（自然科学版），35（1）：25-29

[11] Zhai H, Wang FB, Si ZZ,HuoJX, Xing L, An YY, He SZ & Liu QC* (2016): A myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase gene, IbMIPS1, enhances salt and drought tolerance and stem nematode resistance in transgenic sweetpotato. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 14: 592-602

[12] Si ZZ, Du B, Huo JX He SZ,LiuQC* & Zhai H* (2016) A genome-wide BAC-end sequence survey provides first insights into sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) genome composition. BMC Genomics, 17:945

[13] Wang B, Zhai H, He SZ, Zhang H, Ren ZT, Zhang DD & Liu QC* (2016): A vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter gene, IbNHX2, enhances salt and drought tolerance in transgenic sweetpotato. Scientia Horticulturae, 201: 153-166

[14] Wang FB, Zhai H, AN YY, Si ZZ, He SZ & Liu QC* (2016): Overexpression of IbMIPS1 gene enhances salt tolerance in transgenic sweetpotato. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15(2): 271-281

[15] Wang FB, Zhu H, Kong WL, Peng RH, Liu QC & Yao QH* (2016): The Antirrhinum AmDEL gene enhances flavonoids accumulation and salt and drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Planta, 125:387-398

[16] Wang FB, Tong WJ, Zhu H, Kong WL, Peng RH, Liu QC & Yao QH* (2016): A novel Cys2/His2 zinc finger protein gene from sweetpotato, IbZFP1, is involved in salt and drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Planta, 243:783-797

[17] Wang YN, Li Y, Zhang H, Zhai H, Liu QC & He SZ* (2016): A plastidic ATP/ADP transporter gene, IbAATP, increases starch and amylose contents and alters starch structure in transgenic sweetpotato. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 2016, 15(9): 1968–1982

[18] Kyndt T, Quispe D, Zhai H, Jarret R, Ghislain M, Liu QC, Gheysen G & Kreuze JF* (2015): The genome of cultivated sweet potato contains Agrobacterium T-DNAs with expressed genes: An example of a naturally transgenic food crop. Proceedings of theNationalAcademyof Sciences of theUnited States of America, 112(18):5844-5849

[19] Liu DG, He SZ, Song XJ, Zhai H, Liu N, Zhang DD, Ren ZT & Liu QC* (2015): IbSIMT1, a novel salt-induced methyltransferase gene from Ipomoea batatas, is involved in salt tolerance. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult, 120: 701-715

[20] Yang XS, Su WJ, Wang LJ, Lei J, Chai SS & Liu QC* (2015): Molecular diversity and genetic structure of 380 sweetpotato accessions as revealed by SSR markers. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 14(4):633-641

[21] Chen W, He SZ, Liu DG, Gunvant B. Patil, Zhai H, Wang FB, Stephenson TJ, Wang YN, Wang B, Valliyodan B, Nguyen HT & Liu QC* (2015): A sweetpotato geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene, IbGGPS, increases carotenoid content and enhances osmotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoSONE, 10(9):e0137623.

[22] Li RJ, Zhai H, Kang C, Liu DG, He SZ & Liu QC* (2015): De novo transcriptome sequencing of the orange-fleshed sweet potato and analysis of differentially expressed genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis. International Journal of Genomics, ID843802

[23] Yu XX, Zhao N, Li H, Jie Q, Zhai H, He SZ, Li Q & Liu QC* (2014): Identification of QTLs for starch content in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.). Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(2):310-315

[24] Liu DG, He SZ, Zhai H, Wang LJ, Zhao Y, Wang B, Li RJ & Liu QC* (2014): Overexpression of IbP5CR enhances salt tolerance in transgenic sweetpotato. Plant Cell, Tissue & Organ Culture, 117:1-16

[25] Li H, Zhao N, Yu XX, Liu YX, Zhai H, He SZ, Li Q, Ma DF & Liu QC* (2014):Identification of QTLs for storage root yield in sweetpotato. Scientia Horticulturae, 170:182-188

[26] Liu DG, Wang LJ, Liu CL, Song XJ, He SZ, Zhai H & Liu QC* (2014): An Ipomoea batatas iron-sulfur cluster scaffold protein gene, IbNFU1, is involved in salt tolerance. PLOS-ONE, 9(4)e93935

[27] Jiang T, Zhai H, Wang FB, Zhou HN, Si ZZ, He SZ & Liu QC* (2014): Cloning and characterization of a salt tolerance-associated gene encoding trehalose-6-phosphate synthase in sweetpotato. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(8):1651-1661

[28] Liu QC*, Liu J, Zhang P & He SZ (2014). Root and tuber crops. Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food Systems, 5:46-61

[29] Liu DG, Wang LJ, Zhai H, Song XJ, He SZ & Liu QC* (2014): A novelα/β-hydrolasegene IbMas enhances salt tolerance in transgenic sweetpotato. PLOS-ONE, 9(12):e115128

[30] Wang LJ, He SZ, Zhai H, Liu DG, Wang YN & Liu QC* (2013): Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a salt tolerance-associated gene IbNFU1 from sweetpotato. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(1):27-35

[31] Zhao N, Zhai H, Yu XX, Liu ZS, He SZ, Li Q, Ma DF & Liu QC* (2013): Development of SRAP markers linked to a gene for stem nematode resistance in sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(3): 414-419

[32] Chen W, Zhai H, Yang YJ, He SZ,Liu DG & Liu QC* (2013): Identification of differentially expressed genes in sweetpotato storage roots between Kokei No. 14 and its mutant Nongdafu 14 using PCR-based cDNA subtraction. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(4): 589-595

[33] Yu L, Zhai H, Chen W, He SZ & Liu QC* (2013): Cloning and functional analysis of lycopene ε-cyclase (IbLCYe) gene from sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(5):773-780

[34] Jiang T, Zhai H, Wang FB, Yang N, Wang B, He SZ & Liu QC* (2013): Cloning and characterization of a carbohydrate metabolism- associated gene IbSnRK1 from sweetpotato. Scientia Horticulturae, 158:22-32

[35] Zhao N, Yu XX, Jie Q, Li H, Li H, Hu J, Zhai H, He SZ & Liu QC* (2013): A genetic linkage map based on AFLP and SSR markers and mapping of QTLs for dry-matter content in sweetpotato. Molecular Breeding, 32:807-820

[36] Gao S, Yuan L, Zhai H, Liu CL, He SZ & Liu QC* (2012): Overexpression of SOS genes enhanced salt tolerance in sweetpotato. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 11(3): 378-386

[37] Wang LJ, Dai CB, Liu DG & Liu QC* (2012): Identification of a male-specific amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker in Broussonetia papyrifera. African Journal of Biotechnology, 11(33):8196-8201

[38] Guo HJ, Liu QC* & Liu LX* (2012): Characterization of a novel chlorophyll-deficient mutant Mt6172 in wheat. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2012, 11(6):888-897

[39] Liu DG, Zhao N, Zhai H, Yu XX, Jie Q, Wang LJ, He SZ & Liu QC* (2012): AFLP fingerprinting and genetic diversity of main sweetpotato varieties in China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 11(9):1424-1433

[40]关世凯,杨育峰,孙亚萍,翟红,何绍贞,刘庆昌*(2011):甘薯近缘野生种Ipomoea cordatotriloba组织及原生质体培养植株再生。分子植物育种，9：1851-1856

[41]Gao S, Yu B, Yuan L, Zhai H, He SZ & Liu QC* (2011): Production of transgenic sweetpotato plants resistant to stem nematodes using oryzacystatin-I gene. Scientia Horticulturae, 128:408-414

[42] Gao S, Yu B, Zhai H, He SZ & Liu QC* (2011): Enhanced stem nematode resistance of transgenic sweetpotato plants expressing oryzacystatin-I gene. Agricultural Sciences in China, 10(4):519-525

[43] Gao S, Yuan L, Zhai H, Liu CL, He SZ & Liu QC* (2011): Transgenic sweetpotato plants expressing an LOS5 gene are tolerant to salt stress. Plant Cell, Tissue & Organ Culture, 107:205-213

[44] Liu QC* (2011): Sweetpotato omics and biotechnology in China. Plant Omics Journal，4(6):295-301 ……

[1] Liu QC，Kokubu T (eds.): Proceedings of the 1st Chinese-Japanese Symposium on Sweetpotato andPotato,ChinaAgricultural University Press, 1995

[2]陆漱韵，刘庆昌，李惟基：甘薯育种学，中国农业出版社, 1998

[3]马代夫，刘庆昌主编：中国甘薯育种与产业化，中国农业大学出版社，2005

[4] Liu QC (Editor-in-Chief): Sustainable sweetpotato production technology for food,energy, health and environment-Proceedings of 3rd China-Japan-Korea Workshop on Sweetpotato.ChinaAgricultural University Press, 2008

[5] Ma DF, Liu QC, Chen P: Sweetpotato in Food and Energy Security.ChinaAgricultural University Press, 2010

1998年以来，他连续6次获学校“课堂教学效果优秀奖”；指导了30余名硕士、博士生，多人次获学校优秀毕业生、杜邦奖学金、校长奖学金等；主持、参加6项国家、部及学校教改项目；主编、编写了21世纪课程教材《植物细胞组织培养》、《遗传学（第三版）》，编写了《作物育种学各论》的甘薯育种部分；完成了农林主要课程国家试题库遗传学；制作了《普通遗传学课件》。

1997年获北京市优秀教师称号；1999年被评为中国农业大学优秀教师；2001年获北京市优秀教学成果二等奖，同年享受政府特殊津贴，并获教育部教学科研奖励计划优秀青年教师奖；2003年获首届北京市和全国高等学校教学名师奖，同年获宝钢教育基金优秀教师特等奖；2004年主持的《普通遗传学》被评为国家精品课程。

1995年获教育部科技进步二等奖，1998年获第六届中国青年科技奖、第六届霍英东青年教师奖，1999年获山东省科技进步三等奖，2002年获国家杰出青年科学基金，2004年入选“新世纪百千万人才工程国家级人选”。