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Publication (Jan, 2021)

New paper was published in Nature Food.
Details
[Abstract]

Publication (Dec, 2020)

The genome sequence of the Japanese wheat variety "Norin 61" has been deciphered, and Professor Tsujimoto wrote a commentary on the significance of this research.
Details [Commentary ]

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Our Research

Introduction

Wheat is the most important staple diet for human. The increase in production of wheat has slowed down in the last two decades. As ‘Green Revolution’ saved the hungry in 1960’s using Rht (semi-dwarf) genes, we must find new genes to solve the global food shortage that we will face in the 21st centry. Thus, we decided the research of our laboratory to expand genetic variation of wheat by using chromosome and gene transferring methods.

From 2007, we got involved in a GCOE program entitled ‘Global Center of Excellence for Dry land Science’ and working in the ‘Molecular Breeding Group’. We are studying to produce wheat lines which are tolerant to drought and/or salinity, collaborating with ICARDA (International Center of Agricultural Research in Dry Area, Syria).

In April 2011 we moved our previous lab (Lab of Plant Genetics and Breeding Science, Faculty of Agricultyre, Tottori University) to ALRC and develop the results to the world through the global netwark of ALRC. It is promising news that Dr. Amin E. Eltayeb, molecular geneticist, joined in this lab as an assistant professor.
We are also involved in the Research Center for Chromosome Engineering, Tottori University established in 2009 and opened Plant Chromosome Engineering Division.
We are keepig alliance with Dr. H. Tanaka, Lab. of Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University.



Present Research

1. Expansion of genetic resources by wide crosses and use of the variation for breeding

Leymgrass (Leymus mollis and Leymus racemosus) is a perennial grass species living in sea shore. We made hybrids between the grasses and wheat and selected wheat lines with a pair of the leymgrass chromosome (alien chromosome addition lines). We found lines tolerant to diseases, increasing flour quality and requiring less fertilizer for normal growth. Molecular genetical and cytological techniques are very helpful for this research.

2. Development of method to introduce chromosomes of far-related species to wheat

When wheat is crossed with different species, various abnormalities appear. For example, the pollen of pearl millet (drought-tolerant crop originating from Africa) is crossed to the pistil of wheat, fertilization occurs normally, but chromosomes of the pearl millet are eliminate gradually from the hybrid embryos. If we will able to control this elimination, we could introduce the drought-tolerant genes to wheat. We are studying to know the mechanism of this chromosome elimination. Wide hybridization, embryo rescue, 3-D FISH methods are used in this work.

3. Exploration of wheat variation in the world

To know what wheat is cultivated in the world and how it is used, we have participated in several plant explorations. The countries which we explored are China, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, India, Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

4. Application of gene recombination method to produce stress-tolerant crops

Research background and profile of professors

Dr. Hisashi TSUJIMOTO
Professor. Born in 1958, Got a PhD by researching on “Hybrid dysgenesis in wheat by gametocidal genes” from Kyoto University in 1986. Majors are General Genetics, Cytogenetics and Breeding Science.


Dr. Amin E. ELTAYEB
Assistant Professor. Born in 1972, Got a PhD by working on “Imroving plant tolerance to environmental stresses by overexpression and identification of stress tolerance genes” from Tottori University in 2008. Majors are Plant Biotechnology.

Main facilities in our laboratory

Fluorescence microscopes, Cooled CCD cameras, Discussion microscope, Clean bench, Incubators, Thermal cyclers, Real-time PCR, DNA sequencer, DNA capillary electrophoreser, Grass houses, Growth cambers, Experimental field... Other common facilities are listed in the homepage of ALRC.

Link to the page of Facilities (in our homepage)

Techniques learnt in our laboratory

DNA techniques (DNA cloning, PCR, Electrophoresis, blot hybridizations, Sequencing, TILLING, SuperSAGE, Homology Search, Phylogenetic analysis), Protein techniques (SDS-PAGE, Acid PAGE, 2D-PAGE, Structure analyses, SDS-sedimentation analysis), Chromosome techniques (Chromosome observation in mitosis and meiosis, chromosome banding, Fluorescent in situ hybridization, Genomic in situ hybridization, 3D-analysis), Transformation of wheat, potato and other crops.

Materials used in our laboratory

Wheat (cultivars, genetical and chromosomal lines, synthetic wheats, alien chromosome addition lines, amphidiploids), Pearl millet, Leymgrass, and wheat-related wild grasses. These materials are listed in the home page of NBRP-wheat (National BioResouce Project-wheat).

LINK

- Tottori University
- Faculty of Agriculture, TU
- ALRC (Arid Land Research Center), TU
- CERC (Chromosome Engineering Research Center), TU (only in Japanese)
- ICARDA (International Center of Agricultural Research in Dry Area)
- NBRP-wheat (National BioResouce Project-wheat)
- GCOE(Global COE Program)