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Research Director

Masayoshi Kawaguchi

(Professor, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences)

1992　Ph.D. in Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo
1992　Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
1993　Assistant Professor, The University of Tokyo
2001　Associate Professor, Niigata University
2003　Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo
2009　Professor, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences

Program Manager

Masanori Saito

(ACCEL Program Manager, Japan Science and Technology Agency)

1981　Ph.D, The University of Tokyo
1981　Researcher, Tohoku National Agricultural Experiment Station
1993　Head of Laboratory, National Grassland Research Institute
2002　Head of Research Group, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences
2004　Director of Department, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences
2006　Principal Research Coordinator, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences
2006　Visiting Professor, The University of Tokyo
2008　Professor, Tohoku University
2014　ACCEL Program Manager, JST
2018　Professor Emeritus, Tohoku University

Outline of R&D Project

In the CREST project, we have identified a host factor playing a role in the signal transduction pathways shared by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis and root nodule symbiosis. We have also shown that strigolactones are responsible for transmitting a signal from plants to fungi to establish mycorrhizal symbiosis. Both findings provided us with an insight into the molecular infrastructure that supports AM symbiosis as well as root nodule symbiosis.

In the ACCEL project, we will bring these findings into the field-based research to evaluate the applicability. We will perform field inoculation experiments in multiple locations in Japan to evaluate the efficacy of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in terms of reduction of phosphorous fertilizer use. Simultaneously, we will sequence the genome of mycorrhizal fungi to gain insights into the molecular basis of obligate symbiosis. Our goal is to develop a diagnostic technology for effective use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to reduce use of phosphorus fertilizer and to enhance the applicability of this novel technology in the field. It has been widely recognized that such technology is in urgent need.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi
AM fungi that establish symbiotic relationship with plants on the roots. The fungi receive photosynthetic products (e.g., sugar) from plants in exchange for nutrients (e.g., phosphate) and water, which the fungi extracts from the soil through their hyphae.

Strigolactone
A class of chemicals that regulate growth and development of plant (plant hormones). Strigolactones are secreted from roots depending on the availability of the nutrient in the soil and regulates shoot branching. It also plays an important role in the branching of hyphae of AM fungi.

Phosphorous fertilizer
Due to the limited supply of phosphorous, efficient use of this limited resource is inevitable. Japan is 100% dependent on import to meet its domestic demand, most of which is for agricultural use. For this reason, reducing phosphorus fertilizer use is of particularly crucial.