The Research Center for Advanced Analysis, NARO (NAAC) provides essential analytical technologies and data management system to support initiatives on agriculture, food and the environment.

NAAC News

Utilization of Genome information by "TASUKE+"

The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) has updated the genome navigation system TASUKE+ on September 1, 2023. This system enables the user to check huge amount of genome information at a glance. The updated version has significantly improved functionality, is available for free on our website. Currently, it is widely used by researchers targeting grains, vegetables, and fruit trees. TASUKE+ act as a cutting-edge system in line with the personal genome era that utilizes each individual's genome information. This updated version enables the users to instantly display and compare large amounts of data and use advanced search functions. Read more

Development of "spreading phenotype" rice that suppresses the growth of weeds

National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) has developed a "spreading phenotype" rice inbred line that suppresses the growth of weeds while maintaining the quality and yield of rice by utilizing the genes of wild rice. By blocking sunlight more efficiently than conventional cultivars, the spreading phenotype rice suppresses the growth of weeds under the paddy rice canopy to less than half of the original cultivars. This research result reduces the burden of weed control (spraying herbicides and weeding work) in paddy rice cultivation and paves the way for new paddy rice cultivars that are friendly to both farmers and the environment. Read more

Genome resources for azuki bean and wild relatives

The Vigna Genome Server (VigGS) is a genomics database for the genus Vigna which consists of legume crops such as cowpea, mungbean, and azuki bean in addition to over 100 wild species. One of the most attractive features of the genus Vigna is the great adaptability of the wild species to severe environmental conditions including high salinity, acid or alkaline soil, and drought. By figuring out the mechanisms of how they adapt to such environments, it would be possible to generate novel crops tolerant to the stress conditions. Most Vigna species have diploid, relatively small (550Mb) genome, and are capable of interspecific crosses. This means that comparative genetics and genomics studies can be easily performed, making Vigna species the best material to understand environmental adaptation of higher plants. We sequenced the genome of azuki bean (V. angularis) using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology. The reconstructed pseudomolecules covered 85.6% of the estimated genome size and constructed the Vigna Genome Server ('VigGS'), which is based on a high quality, annotated azuki bean reference genome sequence. Currently genome sequencing of 13 wild Vigna species is in progress. VigGS can be accessed here.

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