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Development of Genetic Engineering Technology of Crops with Stress Tolerance against Degradation of Global Environment

Bioresources

Federative Republic of Brazil

Finished

Development of Genetic Engineering Technology of Crops with Stress Tolerance against Degradation of Global Environment

Biotechnology to Generate a Drought-resistant Soybean

Principal Investigator

- Project Leader, Dr.
  NAKASHIMA Kazuo
  Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)

ODA Recipient Country

Federative Republic of Brazil

Research Institutions in Japan

Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) / The University of Tokyo / RIKEN

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation-National Soybean Research Center (Embrapa Soybean)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2009

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Overcoming drought as an obstacle to soybean production
For Brazil, soybeans are an important export crop, but yield has suffered badly in recent years as a result of drought. This project aims to develop strains capable of withstanding drought by applying the outcomes of research on model plants and using gene sequencing to probe the soybean genome for genes conferring resistance to drought and elucidate mechanisms for controlling those genes. We will use the outcomes of our research to develop new soybeans for cultivation and evaluation to select lines that show the greatest resistance to drought.

Identification and application of genes conferring drought tolerance to the molecular breeding of soybeans capable of withstanding drought
We analyzed the functions of genes associated with drought tolerance in a model plant (Arabidopsis thaliana), and pinpointed soybean genes displaying similar properties. We are also comprehensively analyzing the expression of soybean genes under stress. Moving forward, we plan to identify the best combination of drought tolerance genes and DNA segments (promoters) that modify their expression, and introduce that combination into soybean.

Photo gallery

Drought damage in Brazil

Strategy for genetic modification to develop drought stress resistant soybeans. Experiments are being conducted in both confined fields and greenhouses.