Motoyuki Ashikari　（Professor, Nagoya University）

Plants have two modes of propagation, namely the “seed” and “vegetative” propagation. The vegetative propagation through the formation of rhizome is found in some wild rice species. Often, the rhizome formation is accompanied by vigorous plant growth. In this project, we will elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the rhizome formation, as well as vigorous growth in rice using morphological, genetic, physiological and molecular biological approaches for application to other crops.