Assurance of Safe use of Genetically Modified Organisms
Recent advances in molecular biology have led to the
release of many genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment for
practical uses. Most of these genetically modified crops have helped improve
agricultural productivity in the agro-environment. However, practical uses of
GMOs have raised public concerns about safety issues related to foods and the
effects on ecosystems. Thus, extensive assessment is required before releasing
GMOs into the environment. The main aims of the project are 1) to clarify the
impact of GMOs on other organisms as well as on the environment, 2) to develop
methodologies required for safety assessment of GMO release and to promote the
practical and proper uses of GMOs and 3) to study the global needs for GMOs
and public acceptance of GMO use through public opinion surveys and the provision
of relevant scientific information. Our institute is promoting this project
in collaboration with the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council
Secretariat of MAFF. Our major research results in the 1st year were as follows;
1) A recombinant bacterium for a host of a suicide gene system was constructed
by introducing chlorocatechol-catabolic genes into chromosomes via a transposable
element. 2) Two bioassay systems specific to the detection of allelochemicals
released by plant roots and leaves were established and named “Plant Box
Method” and “Sandwich Method”, respectively. A third bioassay
system named “Dish-Pack Method” for the detection of volatile allelochemicals
released into the environment was developed. Simultaneously volatile chemicals
were identified by GC-MS. 3) Large-scale variation in genome structure was analyzed
in 3 isolates representing 3 genetic lineages of Pseudomonas syringae,
suggesting their genomes are undergoing rapid alterations. 4) It is worried
that genetically modified canola (Brassica napus L.) released into the
environment would predominate and hybridize with related species. We compared
ecological traits among these species in order to clarify the ecological performance,
and we revealed the pheonogy and habitat traits of these.
(Research period: 1999-2004)
Development of Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture
Environmental load from fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture
has become an issue of public concern and there is a need to establish technologies
for sustainable agriculture harmonizing with the environment. In order to reduce
the environmental load from fertilizers and pesticides and reduce the use of
petroleum, the following subjects are conducted. 1) To reduce the leaching of
nutrients of fertilizers we are trying to develop controlled availability fertilizer
that is easy to release in root zones, biological degradative nitrate adsorbents
and low nitrogen input culture technique using ultra slow release fertilizer.
2) We are working to develop alternative techniques for controlling agricultural
pests, such as plant pathogens, insects and weeds, based on using natural enemies,
pathogen-resistance induced in plants and insect behavior regulators or allelopathy.
3) To reduce the use of petroleum we are experimenting with the use of thermoelectric
refrigeration, ice storage, solar energy and radiative cooling in crop production
and post harvest operations.
(Research period: 1999-2003)
Integrated Research Program on Effects of Endocrine Disrupters
on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and their Mechanisms of Action on Domestic
Animals and Fishes
The endocrine disturbing action is suspected in the chemicals,
including dioxins, pesticides and organometals. These chemicals are transported
mainly through water and air and accumulate in organisms through the food chain.
It is therefore of urgent necessity to solve these serious problems so as to
ensure the safety of agricultural products and to conserve agricultural, forest
and aquatic ecosystems. Objectives of this project are as follows: 1) Elucidation
of (1) the mechanisms of uptake and accumulation of endocrine disrupters by crops,
(2) the fate of endocrine disrupters in soil, water and atmosphere, (3) the mechanisms
of bioaccumulation and transport of endocrine disrupters in agricultural, forest
and aquatic ecosystems. 2) Development of techniques for (1) decomposition and
neutralization of endocrine disrupters, (2) control of endocrine disrupter transport
in agricultural, forest and aquatic ecosystems.
(Research period: 1999-2002)
Quantitative Analysis of Terrestrial Ecosystem Decline Related
to Acidic/Oxidative Substances
In order to get information helpful for finding the cause of
forest decline such as that reported in the Oku-nikko mountainous area, field
and laboratory studies were carried out on 1) the state of and the monitoring
methodology for ozone and peroxides in the declining terrestrial ecosystem,
2) the analysis of tree decline in terrestrial ecosystems based on nutrient
dynamics and damages by diseases and pests, 3) evaluation on the effects of
environmental factors on eco-physiological characteristics of plants grown in
the declined forest region, 4) quantitative evaluation of the effects of acid
deposition on a fresh water environment, 5) integrated analysis of material
cycles in the forest ecosystems with the catchment scale model, and 6) development
of a network of researchers on terrestrial ecosystem decline. A catchment study
on all six topics has begun at a small basin of the Sotoyamazawa River in the
Oku-nikko area.
(Research period: 1999-2001)
Elucidation of Contamination and Accumulation of Dioxins
in Edible Parts of Agricultural Crops
To elucidate the actual contamination of dioxins discharged in
the environment of agricultural crops such as vegetables, dioxin concentrations
in each part of these crops as well as the mechanism of uptake and transport
of the compounds by the crops must be clarified. By these process to elucidate
the mechanism of contamination of the compounds in the atmosphere and soil,
the technology to develop the fundamental knowledge for elimination as well
as for prevention of contamination of the compounds should be established. Dioxin
concentrations in each part of the vegetables (carrot and spinach) and those
of tea cultivated in Saitama Pref. were measured, and dioxin concentrations
and their homologue profiles detected from these crops, atmosphere, and in the
environment were analyzed. There were no clear correlation between the crops
and environment in dioxin concentrations and their homologue profiles.
(Research period: 1999-2001)
Isolation and Characterization of Bacterial Receptors for
Environmental Signal Molecules Using Affinity-binding Assays
Various bacteria living in the environment show potential for
use in the development of new technology, such as bioremediation or biological
control of plant pathogens. It is important to elucidate the mechanism of biodegradation
of various pollutants and the interaction between bacteria and plants in order
to develop such technologies. Bacterial receptors for various environmental
signals involved in such mechanisms are of particular importance, because they
begin the first step of a series of complex reactions. The purpose of this project
is to develop new methods for the identification and analysis of bacterial receptors
for environmental signal molecules using affinity-binding assays. Since environmental
signal molecules or receptors for them generally exist at very low concentrations
in nature, radioisotope technology is a powerful tool for such studies. In this
project, four kinds of receptor molecules are studied. 1) Chitobiose is an inducer
element for the production of bacterial chitinases, enzymes that degradate cell
walls of pathogenic fungi. A method to synthesize tritium labeled chitobiose
has been developed. Next year, receptors for chitobiose will be searched in
bacterial membrane fractions using affinity-binding assays. 2) A cell-free system
for the production of radioisotope labeled chloromuconate, an inducer molecule
for the transcription of chlorocatechol-catabolic operon, is being constructed
in order to analyze the binding of the inducer to the receptor protein. 3) The
rice stripe virus genome encodes seven proteins. In order to characterize their
roles in viral infection and growth, the host proteins that bind with viral
proteins are investigated using the west-western blotting method. 4) By 2D-PAGE
of Burkholderia glumae cells , it was demonstrated that the specific 9 proteins
were produced during growth in rice leaf extract compared with growth in minimal
medium. The N-terminal amino acids sequences of these proteins are being analyzed.
(Research period: 1998-2002)
Studies on Land Use Planning Applying Preventive Technology
against Desertification in China
China suffers from severe desertification, caused mainly by excessive
economic activity, natural wind, water erosion and salinization. The purpose
of this study is to develop a sustainable land use plan by applying preventive
technology to the Horqin Grassland of Inner Mongolia, China for sustainable
land use. The results obtained were in the last two years as follows: 1) Vegetation
restoration during a 3-year experimental period was effective in fixing active
dunes. 2) Windbreaks were effective for restoring of soil nitrogen fertility.
3) the Horqin grassland was divided into six parts based on topography, soil,
vegetation and desertification processes. 4) We found soil and vegetation indices
for evaluating degree of desertification and formulated an equation for estimating
biomass using satellite data. 5) It is possible to reduce grazing pressure without
decreasing number of livestocks by introducing barn feeding.
(Research period: 1998-2000)
Comprehensive Program of Research for Elucidation and Optimum
Control of the Ecosystem in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Industries (Bio-Cosmos
Project)
The aims of this project are to elucidate how the agro-ecosystem
is harmonized by the intraspecific and interspecific relationships among the
composing animals, plants and microorganisms, and to improve the utilization
of these useful functions, for development of the well balanced management of
agricultural production. Biologists of weeds, insects and microorganisms of
our institute participated in this project and conducted not only fundamental
research but applied research for developing new plant protection technologies.
Many interesting and useful results for future development of agricultural technologies
have been obtained in this project. Allelochemicals released from roots or leaves
of various plant species were identified and possibility for direct use of these
substances and use of allelopathic activities of plants to control weeds was
demonstrated. Decrease of attractiveness of tortoricid moths to its synthetic
sex pheromone was due to geographic variation of mixture ratio of sex pheromone
components. Hybridization between introduced and indigenous torymid parasitoid
species of the chestnut gall wasp was demonstrated using molecular markers.
Genomic structures of rice stripe virus and rice grassy stunt virus were analyzed
and phylogenetic relationships among various viruses were clarified using molecular
techniques.
(Research period: 1989-1998)
Development of Integrated Monitoring Techniques for Conservation
of Agro-Environmental Resources
The purpose of this project was to develop integrated monitoring
techniques in order to understand the dynamics of farm chemicals with water
and the fluctuation of biotic communities in a investigating basin. The main
results were the methods to 1) survey basin environments, 2) survey water movement,
3) elucidate dynamics of environmental impact materials, 4) estimate water quality
in basin environments, 5) estimate aquatic environments on the basis of the
fluctuation of biotic communities. These methods are to be published under the
title “Monitoring Manual for Agro-ecosystem Assessment”.
(Research period: 1994-1998)
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| Soil Museum Soil monoliths from Japan and the world showing poor soils, fertile soils, red soils or black soils. |
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