Center for Seeds and Seedlings, NARO

Stations

HEADQUARTERS (Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki)
NCSS was established in December 1986 by integrating the Branch Offices of SSD (Seeds and Seedling Division) under MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) and the Foundation Seed Stations (potato, sugarcane and tea plant) into two (2) Branch Offices and thirteen (13) Stations as well as Headquarters. TSUKUBA Branch Office was transferred to Headquarters afterwards, which is at present functions as a head office to administer all activities of NCSS. Headquarters

 

HOKKAIDO-Chuo Station (Kitahiroshima-shi, Hokkaido)
HOKKAIDO-Chuo Station was established in 1947 as one of the Potato Foundation Seeds Stations. After its integration into NCSS in 1986, this station had been dealing with almost all duties under NCSS.
Now it is conducting such duties as follows;
1. Seed production: Producing foundation seeds of potato of a few quantity/many varieties, getting started new-variety production such as making disease-free and rapid propagation
2. Seed inspection: Collecting designated seeds in Hokkaido region, etc
3. Others: Consulting service on infringement to Plant Variety Protection by PVP practitioners, etc.
HOKKAIDO-Chuo Station

 

SHIRIBESHI Sub-Station, HOKKAIDO-Chuo Station (Makkari-mura, Hokkaido)
Since its establishment in 1947 as "SHIRIBESHI Potato Foundation Seeds Station" under MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), this station has been consistently engaging in producing and distributing healthy/disease-free foundation seeds of potato as its main duty. In April 2006 this station was integrated into HOKKAIDO-Chuo Station and renamed "SHIRIBESHI Sub-Station, HOKKAIDO- Chuo Station".
SHIRIBESHI Sub-Station

 

IBURI Station (Abira-cho, Hokkaido)
IBURI Station was established in1947 as "IBURI Potato Foundation Seeds Station", one of the seven (7) stations all over Japan which aimed to produce healthy/ disease-free foundation seeds of potato.
As one of the footholds of producing foundation seeds of potato, IBURI Station produces 18,000 bags/year (1bag=20kg) of them every year with maintaining and upgrading disease-free through various kinds of disease identification.
IBURI Station

 

TOKACHI Station (Obihiro-shi, Hokkaido)
TOKACHI Station is located approximately 28 km south from Obihiro-shi, center of the Tokachi Plain, eastern part of Hokkaido. It is next to Tokachi-Obihiro Airport and occupies 266 ha which is surrounded by a windbreak forest. This station was established in 1947 as "TOKACHI Potato Foundation Seeds Station" under MAF and turned its name into "TOKACHI Station" of NCSS. It locates in Tokachi area which is prospering potato seed production (stock seeds and commercial seeds) and engaging in mass production of main varieties of potato with placing production/distribution of foundation seeds of potato as the most important duty in it. This activity makes this station the biggest one of all the stations under NCSS in terms of foundation seed production of potato. TOKACHI Station

 

KAMIKITA Station (Shichinohe-cho, Aomori)
KAMIKITA Station is located in hilly area in-between National Route 4 and MICNINOKU Highway, eastern region of Aomori prefecture, the northernmost tip of Honshu. This station was established as "KAMIKITA Potato Foundation Seeds Station" in Rokkasyo-mura in 1947, which afterwards transferred to current location in 1982 by the Comprehensive Development Plan on Mutsu-Ogawara Area.
Current duties include production/distribution of foundation seeds of potato, conservation of plant genetic resources (apples, etc.), and consulting service on infringement to Plant Variety Protection by PVP practitioners.
KAMIKITA Station

 

TSUMAGOI Station (Tsumagoi-mura, Gunma)
TSUMAGOI Station is included in the area which locates the northern foot of Mt. Asama in north-western area of Gunma prefecture and occupies the border on Nagano prefecture, 1,200 - 1,300 m above sea level. This station was established as "TSUMAGOI Potato Foundation Seeds Station" in 1947. Cultivation of cabbage is prospering around this station. Although the climate is cool (maximum temperature of monthly average is below 25°C) which is suitable for potato cultivation, it has high precipitation, many rainy days and poor sunshine. Paying attention to management of cultivation and optimum time for harvesting under these circumstances, TSUMAGOI Station is engaging in producing and distributing healthy/disease-free foundation seeds of potato, conservation of plant genetic resources. TSUMAGOI Station

 

YATSUGATAKE Station (Chino-shi, Nagano)
YATSUGATAKE Station was established in 1947 as "YATSUGATAKE Potato Foundation Seeds Station" under MAF and turned its name into "YATSUGATAKE Station" of NCSS in December 1986 with the establishment of NCSS. This station is located in the area where, 1,350 m above sea level, with an inclination of 5 degrees (in average) which facing west, annual average of temperature is 7.1°C, annual precipitation is approximately 1,300 mm (this means cool and dry climate of inland highlands), and it is abundant in sunshine (more than 2,000 hours per year).
The main duty at present is DUS test (focusing on plants of chilly climate). Also, PVP practitioners are posted for consulting service on infringement to Plant Variety Protection.
YATSUGATAKE Station

 

NISHINIHON Station (Kasaoka-shi, Okayama)
NISHINIHON Station was newly established in April 2003 at reclaimed area in Kasaoka Bay which locates in the border on Hiroshima prefecture, southwest region of Okayama prefecture. In addition to DUS test of about 600 varieties by taking advantage of mild climate and abundant sunshine on Seto Inland Sea, this station is conducting seed inspection in Kinki and Chūgoku-Shikoku regions and conservation of plant genetic resources. Also, PVP practitioners are posted for consulting service on infringement to Plant Variety Protection. NISHINIHON Station

 

UNZEN Station (Unzen-shi, Nagasaki)
UNZEN Station was established in 1960 aiming to distribute foundation seeds of potato for the areas which follows semiannual cropping in warm regions. It locates northern slope in Shimabara Peninsula, from where Ariake Bay and Mt. Unzen in a southerly direction can be seen.
Aside from DUS test, seed production (potato) and conservation of plant genetic resources, consulting service on infringement to Plant Variety Protection which is conducted by PVP practitioners.
UNZEN Station

 

KAGOSHIMA Station (Nakatane-cho, Kagoshima)
KAGOSHIMA Station was established in October 1965 as "Sugarcane Foundation Seeds Station". Afterwards it turned its name to "Kagoshima Sugarcane Foundation Seeds Station" in July 1978. Furthermore, with the establishment of NCSS, it was renamed "KAGOSHIMA Station" of NCSS in December 1986.
This station is chiefly engaging in production/distribution of foundation seed of sugarcane, which is cultivated in Kagoshima prefecture, conservation of plant genetic resources of sweet potato, sugarcane, citrus and loquat.
KAGOSHIMA Station

 

OKINAWA Station (Higashi-son, Okinawa)
OKINAWA Station was established in 1978 for the main purpose of stable production and quality improvement of sugarcane which is the basic crop in Nansei Islands through production/distribution of quality foundation seeds of it. After superior varieties bred in breeding institute are introduced to this station and made disease -free, they are mainly distributed within Okinawa prefecture with disease-free propagation through various kinds of inspection. It also engaging in conservation of genetic resources for tropical/subtropical plants such as sugarcane and pineapple as part of Gene Bank Project. Furthermore, PVP practitioners are posted for consulting service on infringement to Plant Variety Protection. OKINAWA Station

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