Development of Breeding Technologies toward Improved Production and Stable Supply of Upland Crops

Biotic stress caused by diseases and insects, and abiotic stress from salinity and drought are limiting factors, which affect stable crop production. In this project, efficient breeding technologies and superior breeding materials, which mitigate damage from these stresses, will be developed in order to maintain sustainable production of important upland crops such as soybean.

Soybean is one of the four major crops in the world, and more than half of its amount has been produced in South America in the last several years. However, soybean production is being threatened by soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, which has been the most serious threat for stable soybean production along with drought since the early 2000s (Fig. 1). 

In order to reduce the yield loss caused by rust, we will analyze the variability in  pathogenicity of the rust pathogens collected in the main soybean-producing countries, i.e., Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, and produce rust-resistant breeding materials toward the development of commercial soybean varieties.

In order to mediate abiotic stresses from salinity and drought, multiple tolerant breeding materials will be produced through the elucidation of salt-tolerant genes and their pyramidization in soybean (Fig. 2), and the evaluation and selection of drought-tolerant lines derived from synthetic wheat. Research on phosphorus deficiency in sorghum and logging tolerance in wheat will likewise be undertaken.

These research activities are very important for food security in Japan, where most of the soybean and wheat are imported.

Fig.1 Soybean severely infected by soybean rust
before maturity

Fig.2 Yield evaluation of the near isogenic
soybean lines (NIL) in the salt-affected field
(Tohoku University, Japan).
Left row: sensitive line, right row: tolerant line.

For further details log on website :
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Development of genetic engineering technologies of crops with environmental stress tolerance

Climate changes and ecological destruction such as desertification and salinization have been seriously damaging agriculture. In many developing countries, they are a main contributor to food insecurity and poverty. An important strategy to improve yield stability and increase production is to develop crop varieties with enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses such as drought, salinity and cold by genetic engineering.

The development of tolerant crops by genetic engineering requires the identification of key genetic determinants responsible for stress tolerance in model plants, and the application of acquired knowledge on food crops. Our continually updated technologies, such as microarrays and related methodologies, enable both global and detailed analyses of expression patterns and functions of genes and promoters to find the targets for generating stress-tolerant crops. To introduce the identified target genes and promoters into crops, we are also developing genetic engineering technologies for rice, wheat, soybean, sugarcane, etc. 

One example of the fruit from these technologies is the identification and application of DREBgenes, which code transcription factors that induce the expression of stress-responsive genes. Over-expression of the DREB genes increases the tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis plants to drought, high salinity and cold. Although these genes were initially identified in Arabidopsis, their presence and function in stress tolerance are well conserved in many other important crops. Using the DREBgenes, we are currently developing stress-tolerant soybean and rice.  

In this project, we continue to develop technological infrastructure to facilitate identifying genes and promoters in stress responses, transferring them into important crops, and evaluating transgenic crops through field studies in collaboration with other institutes abroad, in order to produce stress-tolerant crops that can feed the hunger in developing countries. 

For further details log on website :
http://www.jircas.affrc.go.jp/english/program/proB_1.html

Development of rice production technologies in Africa

    In Africa, delays in economic development and high population growth have given rise to poverty and food shortages. The volume of rice imports from Asia and North America has increased annually due to the rapid rise of consumption that exceeds production. Meanwhile, local farmers’ techniques and knowledge of rice cultivation being deficient and the aid system and research to support such farmers’ activities likewise insufficient, technological progress and increase in rice production are not yet assured. 
    The Yokohama Statement at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in 2008 declared that, "African rice production will need to be doubled in the next decade." The “Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD)” was established to realize that statement and JIRCAS has participated as a member of the Steering Committee since its inception.
This project is composed of three research subjects; the content of each as follows:

1. A research will focus on offering new materials obtained by evaluating or improving the existing genetic resources of upland and lowland rice that are suitable for African field conditions. Efforts will be directed to reduce the losses caused by the lack of phosphate fertilizers or by rice blast, and to boost rice production.
2. The project will develop a low life cycle cost paddy infrastructure technology, an Asian-type rice cultivation system and a paddy field model suitable for African conditions. Likewise, support will be extended to enable local farmers to easily recreate Asian-type irrigated paddy fields that are bunded, levelled and puddled, and carry out paddy rice cultivation (Fig. 1, 2).

   Fig. 1 Plowing by oxen (Ethiopia)

   Fig. 2 Plowing using a power tiller (Ghana)

3. To expand rice cultivation in areas which used to be flood plains, the project will develop a technology for effective rice production in river basins (Fig. 3).

   Fig. 3 Rice in flood plains (The depth rises to about 1.0 meter in rainy season) (Ghana)

    Likewise, efforts are underway to build a framework of cooperation or launch a joint research project, so that the governments concerned or the international organizations can utilize the outputs of research with full confidence for their own projects, investigations and extension promotions. The goal of this project is to achieve the main target of CARD that endeavors to double rice production in Africa within ten years.

For further details log on website :
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Study on chemical analysis, antioxidant and in vitro antifungal activities of essential oil from wild Vitex agnus-castus L. seeds growing in area of Argan Tree of Morocco against clinical strains of Candidaresponsible for nosocomial infections Analyse chimique, activité antioxydante et antifongique in vitro de l’huile essentielle des graines de Vitex agnus-castus L. sauvage poussant dans l’arganeraie du Maroc contre les souches cliniques de Candida responsables des infections nosocomiales

Published Date
December 2015, Vol.25(4):e118–e127, doi:10.1016/j.mycmed.2015.10.005
Original article/Article original

Author 

A. Asdadi

A. Hamdouch

A. Oukacha

R. Moutaj

S. Gharby

H. Harhar

M. El Hadek

B. Chebli

L.M. Idrissi Hassani

Summary

Objective

To study the composition, the antioxidant activity and the in vitro antifungal action anti-Candida species of essential oils extracted from seeds of Vite xagnus-castus L.

Materials and method

The essential oils were extracted using Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The antioxidant activity was analyzed using the DPPH free radical-scavenging method. Susceptibility tests for Candida albicans (12), C. dubliniensis (1), C. glabrata (3), C. krusei (3), C. parapsilosis (6), C. lusitaniae (1), C. famata (1) and C. tropicalis (3) were expressed as inhibition zone by the disc-diffusion method and as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) by the broth macrodilution method, compared to amphotricin B and fluconazol as standard drugs.

Results

Major components were: 1,8-cineole (19.61%), sabinene (14.57%), α-pinene (9.76%), β-farnesene (6.04%), β-caryophyllene oxide (5.83%) and β-caryophyllene (5.02%). A low antioxidant activity was found (IC₅₀ = 1.072 mg/ml), but it can be exploited. V. agnus-castus seeds essential oils disosed a 35-58 mm zone of inhibition (mean: 49 mm) against all 30 isolates tested. In broth macrodilution method, all the tested Candida species were susceptible to the essential oils and this activity was concentration-dependent. MIC values varied from 0.13 to 2.13 mg/ml V. agnus-castusseeds essential oils.

Conclusion

Results of this study indicated that the oils of plant origin could be used as potential anti-Candida species causative agents of nosocomial infections. These oils exhibited a noticeable antifungal activity against the selected fungi. The natural antifungal substances are inexpensive and have fewer side effects, they may represent alternative therapies for candidiasis.

Résumé

Objectif

Étudier la composition chimique, l’activité antioxydante et l’activité in vitro anti-Candida des huiles essentielles des graines de Vitex agnus-castus L.

Matériel et méthodes

Les huiles essentielles ont été extraites en utilisant l’appareil type Clevenger et analysées par chromatographie gazeuse couplée à la spectrométrie de masse (CG/SM). L’activité antioxydante a été analysée en utilisant la méthode du piégeage des radicaux libres à l’aide du DPPH. Les tests de sensibilité de Candida albicans(12), C. dubliniensis (1), C. glabrata (3), C. krusei (3), C. parapsilosis (6), C. lusitaniae(1), C. famata (1) et C. tropicalis (3) ont été évalués par la méthode de diffusion sur gélose, par la concentration minimale inhibitrice (CMI) et par la concentration minimale fongicide (CMF) selon la méthode de macrodilution en milieu liquide, comparés à l’amphotéricine B et au fluconazole comme antifongiques de référence.

Résultats

Les composants majeurs étaient : 1,8-cineole (19,61 %), sabinene (14,57 %), α-pinene (9,76 %), β-farnesene (6,04 %), β-caryophylleneoxide (5,83 %) and β-caryophyllene (5,02 %). Une faible activité antioxydante a été trouvée, mais elle est exploitable (CI₅₀ = 1,072 mg/mL). L’huile essentielle des graines de V. agnus-castusL. a montré une zone d’inhibition de 35–58 mm (moyenne : 49 mm) contre les 30 isolats testés. Dans la méthode de macrodilution en milieu liquide, tous les isolats des espèces de Candida testés étaient sensibles à l’huile essentielle et cette activité était dépendante de la concentration. Les valeurs de CMI variaient de 0,13 à 2,13 mg/mL.

Conclusion

Les résultats de cette étude ont montré que les huiles essentielles des plantes pourraient être utilisées comme des agents antifongiques potentiels contre les espèces de Candida responsables d’infections nosocomiales. Ces huiles présentent une activité antifongique notable contre les champignons sélectionnés. Ces substances antifongiques naturelles sont peu coûteuses et ont moins d’effets secondaires, elles représentent un potentiel thérapeutique alternatif contre les candidoses.

Keywords

• Vitex agnus-castus L.
• Essential oil of seeds
• Nosocomial infections
• Candida species
• Antioxidant activities
• Antifungal
• GC/MS

Mots clés

• Vitex agnus-castus L.
• Huile essentielle
• Infections nosocomiales
• Candida sp. activité antioxydante
• Antifongique
• GC/MS

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 Table 1

Table 1.

 Table 2

Table 2.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Figure 1.

 Table 4

Table 4.

 Table 5

Table 5.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author.

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Role of various nano-particles in prevention of fungal decay, mold growth and termite attack in wood, and their effect on weathering properties and water repellency

Published Date
February 2016, Vol.107:77–87, doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2015.11.010

Author 

• Evren Terzi ^a,
• S. Nami Kartal ^a,,
• Nural Yılgör ^b,
• Lauri Rautkari ^c,
• Tsuyoshi Yoshimura^d,

• aDepartment of Forest Biology and Wood Protection Technology, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University, 34473 Bahcekoy, Istanbul Turkey
• bDepartment of Forest Products Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University, 34473 Bahcekoy, Istanbul, Turkey
• cDepartment of Forest Products Technology, School of Chemical Technologies, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland
• dLaboratory of Innovative Humano-habitability, Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH), Kyoto University, 611-0011 Uji, Kyoto, Japan

Received 2 October 2015. Revised 7 November 2015. Accepted 7 November 2015. Available online 21 November 2015. 

Highlights

• Nano-ZnO showed promising leach resistance compared to the other nano-compounds and it was also slightly effective in decreasing water absorption.
• •
  Nano-CuO and nano-SnO₂ inhibited fungal decay by Trametes versicolor; however, almost all nano-compounds were effective in preventing decay by Gloeophyllum trabeum.
• •
  While Nano-CuO and nano-B₂O₃ well-inhibited termite feeding, nano-ZnO and nano-CeO₂ treatments resulted in only moderate termite resistance.
• •
  Nano-ZnO and nano-B₂O₃ effectively inhibited mold growth.

Abstract

The resistance of Scots pine wood vacuum-treated with nano-particles of ZnO, B₂O₃, CuO, TiO₂, CeO₂, and SnO₂ against decay, mold fungi and subterranean termites was evaluated. Weathering and water absorption properties were also studied. Nano-ZnO only was resistant against leaching, while the other compounds leached out from wood specimens at more than 60% release rates. Mold growth in wood specimens was significantly inhibited by treatment with nano-ZnO and nano-B₂O₃. In Petri dishes, all mold fungi were also inhibited by nano-ZnO and nano-B₂O₃; however, nano-SnO₂ inhibited Trichoderma harzianum growth only. Weight loss from fungal attack by the brown-rot fungus was significantly inhibited by all nano-compounds tested, except for leached specimens of nano-B₂O₃ treatments. Considerably higher weight losses were obtained in decay resistance tests by the white-rot fungus; only nano-CuO and nano-SnO₂ were effective against this fungus. Nano-CuO and nano-B₂O₃ treatments produced favorable termite resistance in both weathered and unweathered specimens, while nano-ZnO and nano-CeO₂ resulted in decreased weight loss in specimens exposed to termites. Nano-ZnO was slightly effective in decreasing water absorption. Exposing untreated wood specimens to artificial weathering resulted in significant changes in the chemical structure as determined by FT-IR analysis; however, weathering effect was somewhat decreased by the incorporation of the nano-compounds.

Keywords

Nano-particle

ZnO

B₂O₃

CuO

TiO₂

CeO₂

SnO₂

Biological performance

Weathering

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 Table 1

Table 1.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

 Table 2

Table 2.

Fig. 5.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

• ∗ 
  Corresponding author.
  
  

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