Institute of
Plant Science andResources

Joint-Usage/Research Center“Plant Genetic Resources and Stress Science”

GUIDE BOOK 2023

By understanding plants,
we sow the seeds of tomorrow
Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), one of
the research institutes and centers affiliated with National
Universities in Japan, emphasizes studies of education
and research in plant science in its contributions to the
Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science.
Through our research, IPSR promotes the use of plant
genetic resources and develops basic knowledge toenhance understanding of plant stress responses.
Since 2010, we have acted as a nationwide Joint Use/
Joint Research Center to provide support to the broadresearch community in our designated fields, genetic
resources, and plant stress responses. In practical terms,
we offer tangible resources to researchers, improveresearch environments such as experimental field andresearch buildings, extending our support to nearly 600
collaboration projects to date, and contributing to thedevelopment of plant science within and beyond Japan.
During this century, negative effects on the global
environment brought about by human activities havebecome exceedingly apparent. Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) were proposed with recognition of thenecessity of resolving these issues urgently, as adifficulty faced by all humankind, to build a foundation
for sustainable society. It is no wonder that plant scienceshould play a major role in the process. Accordingly,
at IPSR, we aim at accelerating the basic research ofplant stress responses through efficient utilization ofavailable genetic resources. We believe that our mission
for the accomplishment of SDGs has become crucially
important.

Institute of Plant Scienceand Resources (IPSR)
The institute quickly acquired a status of a widely open
and welcoming collaboration center for domestic andforeign researchers. Its current scientific mission aims
development of new generation crops that will be suitedfor multitude of stress environments, and promoteagricultural production in stress-affected areas worldwide.

Research Core for
Future Crops
The objectives of this core are to exploit
new research topics that are expected to beimportant in the near future and to advancefuture-oriented studies in plant stress science.
・Crop Design Research Team・Field Flora Research Team・Crop Functional Innovation Research Team・Crop × Environment Design Research Team

Director

Takashi Hirayama

Milestones in IPSR History

Research Core for
Plant Stress Science
In each unit, plant stress responses and plantinteractions with other organisms are studied
u s i n g v a r i o u s a p p ro a c h e s o f p h y s i o l o g y,biochemistry, stress tolerance mechanisms, andgenetics.

AtmosphericStress Unit
・Plant Light Acclimation
Research Group・Group of Environmental
Response Systems
・G ro u p o f F u n c t i o n a l
Biomolecular Discovery

SoilStress Unit・G roup of Plant StressPhysiology
・Group of Plant Molecular
Physiology

BioticStress Unit

・Group of Plant-Microbe
Interactions
・G roup of Plant-Insect
Interactions
・P lant Immune DesignGroup・Group of Plant Environmental
Microbiology

Always in Kurashiki:
History of IPSR

IPSR, the successor to
the “Ohara Institute for
Agricultural Research”,
was established in1914 by Magosaburo
Ohara, the renowned
Kurashiki philanthropist. Since its establishment,
the institute has remained located in the centerof Kurashiki City. After affiliated with Okayama
University in 1952, IPSR was reorganized andrenamed several times.

IPSR is recognized as a

Joint Usage/ResearchCenter of "Plant Genetic
Resources/Stress
Science Research"
by the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology

Barley and Wild Plant
Resource Center
The center promotes collaborative research using
the internationally significant genetic resources
and techniques in plant science.

Genetic
resources unit

Appliedgenomics unit

・Group of Genome Diversity
・Group of Wild Plant Science・Group of Genetic
Resources and Functions・Group of Integrated
Genomic Breeding

Since 2010, we have annually accepted about
50 collaboration projects, and many publications
have been released through joint research. We
organize an annual symposium on plant scienceand resources, together with workshops for specificresearch topics. We share information with theresearch community via organization of the Plant
Stress Science Research Network (PSSNet).

1.5-haIn natural harmony,
genetic resources ofplants are used toembrace individual
experimental fieldgroups’ efforts at
improvement of plant resilience, sustainable society
development, and genomic breeding of future
crops. Along with the greenhouse facilities, a 1.5ha experimental field is attached to the researchbuildings that host large and diverse arrays of hightech research equipment.

IPSR offers abundant genetic
resources, cultivation facilities,
and analytical equipment for

RECTOR
program
The International ResearchCenter Formation Programto Accelerate Okayama
University Reform has been
established in 2019.

Collaborative
Research

Advanced research equipment and instruments
are well-maintained by our technical support
department and made available for the “Joint
Usage/Research Center” research projects. Asidefrom its research facilities, Kurashiki Campus also
accommodates an annex
library of the Okayama
University and its uniquecollection of rare books,
some of which are fromthe institute’s founding era(Pfeffer’s collection on plant
physiology, and others).
IPSR Branch LibraryResearch Core for Plant Stress Science
Atmospheric Stress Unit

Soil Stress Unit

Atmospheric Stress Unit

Plant Light
Acclimation
Research Group
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor

Wataru Sakamoto
Ryo Matsushima
Yuki Okegawa

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/pla-hp/

Atmospheric Stress Unit

Group ofEnvironmental
Response Systems
Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor

Takashi Hirayama
Izumi Mori
Yoko Ikeda

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/ers-hp/

Atmospheric Stress Unit

Group of Functional
Biomolecular
Discovery
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor

Manabu Sugimoto
Kazuhide Rikiishi

Biotic Stress Unit

Photosynthesis and chloroplastbiogenesis: Understanding toinnovation
Our life on ear th cannot continue without the atmosphericenvironment, which is maintained by oxygenic photosynthesis.
Plants perform photosynthesis in chloroplasts, where light energy
is converted into chemical energy by a series of electrochemical
reactions. In contrast, sessile land plants are exposed incessantly
to excess light energy or harsh atmospheric environmentsthat engender ‘photodamage’. How do plants cope with suchphotosynthetic inactivation? What are the key elements tomaintaining or even maximizing chloroplast functions? Our
group studies various aspects of chloroplast development andphotosynthesis. Through understanding of the factors involvedin photoprotection and chloroplast function, we aim at improving
crop productivity against atmospheric stress over the long term.

Uncovering secrets of plants: howplants ‘know’ their surroundings and‘think up’ ways to cope with themBeing sessile, plants must adapt to all environmental changes orperish. Plants are already well-known to recognize environmental
fluctuations and to respond promptly to such changes.
Nevertheless, it remains unclear how plants dissect and integrate
environmental signals and make a decision to render an optimal
response even with no information-integration systems such as
those of our central nervous system. To address this question, ourgroup investigates environmental stress response systems of plants
using physiological, molecular biological, and molecular genetic
approaches. Among plant stress responses, we emphasize thestudies of stress-associated plant hormone signaling and stressassociated chromatin regulation. Our ultimate goal is to takeadvantage of the research outcomes to create stress-tolerant crops.

Application of functional biomolecules
for developing plants supporting
future society
Plants are sensitive to various environmental stimuli. They respondto physical, chemical, and biological stress factors. Consequently,
plants can undergo changes in their development, morphology,
and physiology during their life cycle. We have used biochemical
and molecular biological techniques to elucidate the functionsof enzymes, proteins, and gene regulating factors, which are
all related to stress tolerance mechanisms of plant cells underenvironmental stress conditions. Through our research, we aim
at developing plants that can adapt well to adverse and extreme
environments to resolve difficulties such as food shortages andenvironmental degradation.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/pgm-hp/

Soil Stress Unit

Group ofPlant StressPhysiology
Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor

Jian Feng Ma
Naoki Yamaji
Namiki Mitani-Ueno
Noriyuki Konishi

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/ps-hp/

Strategies of plants to overcome
mineral stresses
Plants rooting in soil must take up mineral nutrients as well aswater for their growth. A deficiency or excess of a mineral element
can cause growth inhibition. However, some plant species havedeveloped strategies to overcome mineral stresses. Our groupspecifically examines the mechanisms of uptake, distribution, andaccumulation of mineral elements including essential, beneficial
and toxic elements from the intact plant level to the gene level. We
aim at making a future contribution to sustainable and safe crop
production.

Soil Stress Unit

Group ofPlant Molecular
Physiology
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor

Maki Katsuhara
Takayuki Sasaki
Shigeko Utsugi

Water and ion transport mechanisms
in response to environmental stresses
Our group has been par ticularly addressing response andadaptation mechanisms to environmental stresses in plants
by molecular analyses and cellular levels. Specifically, we areinvestigating the diverse physiological functions of aquaporins(ability to transport water, hydrogen peroxide, and ions in somemolecular species), functions of aquaporins in seed formation, thephysiological roles of cation transporters in salt stress response,
inhibitory effects of aluminum on plant growth in acidic soils, thephysiological functions of ALMT as an aluminum-tolerance gene,and the diversity of gene families.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/mp-hp/

Biotic Stress Unit

Group ofPlant-Microbe
Interactions
Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor

Nobuhiro Suzuki
Hideki Kondo
Kiwamu Hyodo

Ascertaining the interplay between
plants and beneficial and harmful
viruses
Plant grow th is influenced by interactions between plants
and va rious microorganisms. V ir use s, bacte ria and fungi
pathogenic are threats to plants. By contrast, some viruses infectphytopathogenic fungi and reduce their virulence, thereby having
potential as biocontrol agents. This group studies various bipartite(plant - virus) or tripartite (plant - pathogenic fungus - mycovirus)
interplays with specific examination of the multifaceted nature of
microbes. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the promotion ofhealthy growth of crops and other plants.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/pmi-hp/

Biotic Stress Unit

Group ofPlant-Insect
Interactions
Professor
Associate Professor

Ivan GalisTomonori Shinya

Elucidation of plant-insect interactions
at the molecular level
Establishment of ef fective plant defense systems against
herbivores in natural history reflects the existence of extremely
variable interactions between plants and insects, also known
as co-evolution process. Our group strives to understand, at amolecular level, the mechanisms of activation, signal transduction
and metabolic basics of plant defenses triggered af ter therecognition of insect attack. Furthermore, we target sustainablepest control by the use of natural enemies and their attraction
to herbivore-infested plants by the emissions of various volatileorganic compounds (VOCs) from plants.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/2013pii/

Biotic Stress Unit

Plant Immune
Design Group
Professor
Assistant Professor

Yoji Kawano
Fumi Fukada

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/pid-hp/

Plant immune design through comprehensive
understanding of rice immunity
The global population is estimated to reach 9 billion by 2050.
Agriculture will have to change fundamentally to support such agreat number of people. Improving rice, the most important crop,is a key research goal. Our ultimate goal is to design rice traits toconfer biotic stress tolerance. Our research focuses on immune
receptors and the small GTPase OsRac1, which are key factors
supporting rice immunity. We believe that a comprehensive
understanding of immune receptors and OsRac1 functions will
enable us to design rice immunity. To accomplish this goal, we
combine cutting-edge technologies such as live imaging andgenome editing.

Biotic Stress Unit

Group of Plant
Environmental
Microbiology
Associate Professor
Associate Professor

Akio Tani
Shoko Ueki

Deciphering molecular mechanismsof symbioses among plants, algae,
bacteria, and viruses
Methylobacterium species that predominate in the phyllosphereutilizing methanol emitted from plants can promote plant growth.
Their methanol metabolism includes an enzyme dependent onlanthanides, which have been regarded as non-essential metals
for any kind of life; we ascertain its importance in microorganisms
both genetically and biochemically.
On the other hand, we characterize biotic interactions between
a bloom forming algae and marine bacteria or viruses, whichshape algal population dynamics in environments. We are trying
to decipher these interspecies interactions at the molecular andcellular levels.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/pem-hp/

Barley and Wild Plant Resource Center
Genetic Resources Unit
Genetic Resources Unit

Group of
Genome Diversity
Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor

Kazuhiro Sato
Daisuke Saisho
Hiroshi Hisano

Applied Genomics Unit

Analysis and application of genome
diversity in barley genetic resources
Our group specifically conducts investigation into the analysis
and application of barley diversity using ca. 20,000 accessions
including landraces, cultivars/breeding lines, experimental lines
and wild relatives collected worldwide. Main subjects of ourresearch are (1) Diversity analysis of genetic resources and theirgenomes, (2) Genome sequencing and generation of genome
related resources, and (3) Genetic analysis of traits with industrial
importance and their technical applications. Our activities forcollection, preservation, and distribution of barley genetic andgenomic resources, which are partially supported by the National
BioResource Project, MEXT, Japan, contribute to the researchcommunity worldwide.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/gd-hp/

Genetic Resources Unit

Group ofWild Plant Science
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor

Hajime Ikeda
Jun Yamashita

Natural variation and evolution ofplantsEarth is home to over 300,000 known species of plants. This
diversity of plant species has been shaped mainly throughadaptive evolution to various environments, including abiotic
as well as biotic ones. By particularly addressing evolutionary
genomics of wild plants, we attempt to reveal relationshipbetween plant evolution and natural environment and to elucidate
mechanisms that shaped plant diversity. In addition to such basic
research, we preserve and distribute wild plant seed resources.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/wp-hp/

Applied Genomics Unit

Group of Genetic
Resources andFunctions
Professor

Shin Taketa

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/gr-hp/

Molecular genetics of barley: seed
quality and spike morphology
Barley, the fourth most important cereal crop in the world, typicallyhas seeds with adhered hulls. This hulled seed trait is suitablefor breweries. Some naked seed mutants with easily separable
hulls were generated through a spontaneous mutation. They aresuitable for food usage. Results of our research demonstrate thatbarley awns and spike hulls are photosynthetically active. Ourcurrent research specifically examines molecular identificationand characterization of beneficial genes controlling (1) seedmorphology and quality, including water soluble healthy dietaryfiber, and (2) photosynthetic contribution of awns and hulls using
mutants. We seek application of our basic findings to practicalbreeding.

Applied Genomics Unit

Group of Integrated
Genomic Breeding
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor

Toshio Yamamoto
Kiyotaka Nagaki
Tomoyuki Furuta

Understand the genome and chromosome
dynamics for future crop breeding
Along with rapid changes in global environments in recent years,
agricultural environments are also changing rapidly. To continue
food production under these changing circumstances, we must
develop varieties that can adapt to those changes more rapidly
than ever. Our research group has been investigating the genomic
constitution of vast rice genetic resources, which are the driving
force of breeding, specifically examining rice productivity andenvironmental stress tolerance, and developing identification
methods for genes (group) capable of responding to various
breeding targets. We have also been investigating chromosome
dynamics in cross breeding.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
english/research/ng-hp/

Research Core for Future Crops
Crop Design
Research Team

Digitizing crop environmental responses:
From genes to development

Field Flora
Research Team

Relationship between the plant growth andenvironmental factors in double cropping

Crop Functional Innovation
Research Team

Development of a research hub forcrop functional innovation using barley

related to crop production, such as biotic and abiotic stress
tolerance, in a shorter time than ordinary breeding systems.
Currently, we are investigating the improvement of barleyseed components and elucidating cr yptic viruses thatmight be present in field-grown barley. By advancing thesestudies, we intend to establish a research center for cropfunctional innovation.

Crop × Environment Design
Research Team

Understanding crop genetic resource ×
environment interactions for future breeding

and rhizosphere microbiota in double-cropping fieldsof rice and barley. This team, which started in 2022, will
deepen our understanding of the genetic structure of crop ×
environment interactions, and develop verification researchusing resources such as multi-parent populations andmathematical models predicting the impact on agronomic
traits.

RECTOR program

Illustrating molecular machinery ofplant bioenergetic toward optimizationof photoenergy on agricultural crops

Specially Appointed Associate Professor June-Sik Kim

Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Professor

Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor

Akio Tani (adjunctive)
Naoki Yamaji (adjunctive)
Daisuke Saisho (adjunctive)
Hideki Kondo (adjunctive)
Toshio Yamamoto (adjunctive)

Hiroshi Hisano (adjunctive)
Hideki Kondo (adjunctive)
Ryo Matsushima (adjunctive)
Namiki Mitani-Ueno (adjunctive)

Associate Professor Daisuke Saisho (adjunctive)
Associate Professor Yoko Ikeda (adjunctive)
Associate Professor Akio Tani (adjunctive)
Associate Professor Naoki Yamaji (adjunctive)
Assistant Professor Tomoyuki Furuta (adjunctive)
Specially Appointed Associate Professor June-Sik Kim

Specially Appointed Professor Michael Hippler
Assistant Professor Shin-Ichiro Ozawa

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
RECTOR/

By adopting genetic resources at IPSR and integratinga broad range of data and knowledge related to thephysiological responses of the plant to environmental
fluctuation, our group aims to accelerate the discovery
of genes which contribute to higher crop productivity.
Understanding the interactions of genes and environmental

This team is a cross-disciplinary team established in 2017.
In the institute fields, double cropping of rice and barley isrepeated every year, with and without fertilizer. Plant (crop)
growth and yield is affected not only by their genotype andthe resultant phenotype, but also by environmental factors.
By utilizing multi-omics approach, we are monitoring growth

Our research team specifically examines improvement ofgenetic modification technologies of barley, a major cropworldwide. This technology is important for overcoming
food and environmental difficulties that human beings arefacing today. For example, such technologies can support
the improvement of various agricultural characteristics

For sustainable agricultural production, it is necessary tounderstand the seasonal transition of the field environment,
adaptive crop genotypes, and their interactions, and toconnect them to crop breeding practices. Using barley
germplasm, we have been collecting multi-year, multienvironment agronomic trait data, as well as soil mineralschanges in plants under field conditions is crucially
impor tant. Our group, by integration of various
comprehensive analytical techniques, has been promoting
research to elucidate the physiological state transitionsof crops throughout their life course in field conditions.
Fur thermore, we have promoted the use of field datafor development of analytical methodologies to predictagronomic traits of crops computationally.

of crops, transitions of ions available in the rhizosphere, andrhizosphere microflora throughout the year, and explore theecological relationships that exist among them.

We established the International Research Center Formation Programto Accelerate Okayama University Reform (RECTOR Program) in 2019,
which operates under the direct control of the president and serves as
a leading measure for University reform aimed at developing stronger
research capabilities, inviting the overseas principal investigator. Ourgroup is driven by the aim to understand plasticity of bioenergetic
principles that enables energy transformation and CO 2 fixation
permitting acclimation and adaptation in response to the environment.
These acclimation strategies are dynamically and transiently linked
with redox- and/or secondary mediated regulatory processes as wellas to post-translational modifications. To measure dynamic transitions,
we are employing fast optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, andstructural biology approaches.

Joint Usage/
Research Center Program

Kurashiki Guest House

We accept collaborations in wide areas of plant biology,
biochemistry and molecular biology, and support themwith state-of-art equipment and research facilities in theinstitute.

Kurashiki Guesthouse was built to support collaborators
who stay on campus, conducting research andscientific discussions, while enjoying the comfort ofspacious rooms near Kurashiki historical town.

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/english/collaboration/
collaboration-index/

https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/english/collaboration/
guesthouse/

Access & Routes
Domestic Transportations to Kurashiki
SHINKANSEN LINE

90min

TOKYO
[SHINKANSEN LINE][NARITA EXP]NARITA[BUS]

30min[MEITETSU]
55min

SHIN-OSAKA[HARUKA]

45min

INE
O’L
NY
SA
‘
29
R
J
te4
IKI Rou City Art
SHAMuseum
UR

to

K
SIN

▲Mt.Tsurugata
Ohara
Museum of Art
Geibunkan HallIPSRCity Hall

70min

[BUS]
210minOKAYAMA-Transfer to local serveice[SANYO LINE]KANSAI

IKI

ASH

80min

CHUBU

to O

MA

YA

KA

KUR

[AIR LINE]

120
min

N

HANEDA

NAGOYA

210min

AIR LINE

18min

OKAYAMA
[BUS]

35min

KURASHIKI

2023.4

Institute of Plant Science and Resources
2-20-1 Chuo,Kurashiki 710-0046,Japan
Tel:+81-86-424-1661 Fax:+81-86-434-1249
E-mail:SEE1201@adm.okayama-u.ac.jp
University Markhttps://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/

IPSR,OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY

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