Members:

• ER: Prof. Toshiaki Mitsui, Dr. Marouane Baslam
• PhD students:
• Technician:

Principal Investigator: Prof. Toshiaki Mitsui (Email: t.mitsui@agr.niigata-u.ac.jp).

Research goals

Molecular Cell Biology Team

1. Elucidation of the intracellular mechanism in the Golgi-to-Plastid traffic in higher plant
2. Elucidation of protein interactions
3. Regulation of starch biosynthesis and degradation (in rice)
4. Production of high-protein rice using plastid localization signal　　

Sustainable Agricultural Research Team

1. plant-microbe interactions: identification of microbial molecules or biomarkers promoting yields and quality or even novel functionality.
2. Development of sophisticated – and environmentally-adaptive – plant.

Climate Change Team (CO₂ /Tº/Drought/ Salt stress)

1. Elucidation of chalky mechanism appearance in rice
2. H₂O₂ priming under high temperature
3. Essential roles of autophagy in metabolic regulation and stress adaptation in endosperm development
4. Breeding of salt-tolerant and drought-tolerant rice cultivars

Sake Research Team

1. Cultivation of sake rice
2. Analysis of the white-core kernels of the sake-brewing rice cultivars
3. Breed new cultivar(s) to find solution to the pre-harvest sprouting (PHS).

Facilities:

Applied Biological Chermistry Laboratory at Niigata University has outstanding competence and expertise to enhance crop performance and improved systems, food quality, safety, and security performing through research and development of protocols, new varieties, and technologies in the fields of plant growth regulation, biotechnology, and agriculture. UNiigata has ready access to research infrastructure in molecular (PCR systems, MiSeq Gene and Small Genome Sequencer, server, software for data analyses, etc) and cellular fields (scanning electron microscope (SP8), confocal microscopes), and proteomics (iTRAQ LC MS/MS). The Lab has full access to Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA).

The NU partner has long experience in rice grain quality analyses (Phenotype and physico-chemical properties of grains) using grain grader, SEM, and ICP/OES. It should be noted that our Lab. runs a satellite research centre (https://www.agr.niigata-u.ac.jp/~nkariwa/) equipped with a Biodome and experiment buildings that have highly-functional greenhouses for the conduct of a wide range of studies such as the development of new cultivars under environmental changing conditions, selection of outstanding vegetables, and the creation of novel varieties that contribute to the promotion of agricultural in the communities. The Crop Improvement area focuses on the development of yield, stress tolerance and quality traits technologies to be applied on any crop of interest. Furthermore, the team at NU has the pertinent genomic analysis facilities and services and own important expertise in computational biology and data integration to conduct the activities of the proposal and offer the suitable environment to seconded staff. NU has excellent and well-documented expertise in specific technologies and platforms allowing to solve specific scientific problems.