Investigating crop genetic resources for climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture: cutting-edge technologies for the drylands

We are developing technologies to create crops that can withstand climate change. Humans are consuming a limited number of plant species for food.
Wheat, rice and maize are mainly cultivated and consumed by humans today. However, it is becoming very important to utilize the orphan crops mainly grown in the developing countries for dietary diversification and sustainable agriculture in the future. In addition, the development of innovative technologies in breeding and cytogenetics is indispensable for sustainable development.

Therefore, our group is conducting the following research projects.

1. Understanding the orphan crops such as cowpea and pearl millet with genetic and cytogenetic methods
2. Haploid production via manipulation of centromeres
3. Developing the CRISPR-based novel cytogenetic method
4. Expanding the genetic resources via wide crossing　

PI: Takayoshi Ishii（Arid Land Research Center, Tottori university, Japan）