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The research field "Plant Germplasm Enhancement" is stationed in the Food Research Education and Research Center (hereinafter referred to as the Center). The Center is a field-oriented institution located in the central area of the Banshu Plains in Kasai City (approximately 60 km west of the Rokko-dai campus) and has 40 ha of land area. The Center features real-scale agricultural production carried out as a base for educational and research activities. Our research themes include exploring the origin and evolution of cultivated plants particularly of Japanese pear and rice, and investigating gene function and expression of useful agronomic traits for future breeding.
Primula sieboldii is a perennial clonal herb that is widely distributed in Japan, but in danger of extinction in the wild. The extent of genetic diversity that is maintained among and within remnant wild populations plays a key role in understanding the adaptive evolution of a species in response to fluctuating environments. Such knowledge can therefore support the conservation of endangered species. Our research contributes for long-term existence of wild populations in their native habitat.
Furthermore, we also attempt to understand the genetic mechanism generating diversity in root shape in radish. There are high-diversity of root shape in radish in Japan, as various cultivars and landraces have been cultivated for many years.
