The molecular basis of an alpine-dwarf plant in Yakushima with life history characteristics eqivalent to model organisms

• Project/Area Number: 15K07188
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: Shinohara Wataru 香川大学, 教育学部, 准教授 (30467443)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,200,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥2,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥690,000)
• Keywords: ボディサイズ / 細胞サイズ / 細胞数 / ヒメコナスビ / 屋久島 / 適応進化 / 高密度連鎖解析 / 高山性ミニチュア植物 / QTLマッピング / コナスビ / 種分化 / 連鎖解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An alpine dwarf plant, Lysimachia japonica var. minutissima, shows very unique dwarfing mechanism at cell level i.e. decreasing both cell size and number. This plant also shows life history characteristics suitable to genetic analysis i.e. short generation time, self compatibility, easily forming clones from adventitious roots, many flower and seeds. The aim of this study is to construct a high density genetic linkage map and to identify the locations of genes related to dwarfing traits. In this study, F2 plants were formed from crossing between var. minutissima and var. japonica, and dwarfing traits were measured from each F2 plant grown in a common garden experiment.Also DNA was extracted from each F2 plant and those DNA were used for RAD sequencing analysis to construct high density linkage map.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒメコナスビの特殊な葉の小型化の分子基盤解析から、植物ボディサイズを決定する分子メカニズム解明の糸口を得られる可能性があると考えている。また本研究課題の遂行は植物の体サイズを小型化する技術開発につながる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Crossability of a high-mountain dwarf variety of Lysimachia japonica (Primulaceae) endemic to Yakushima Island with its normal-sized lowland counterpart (2017)
  • Author(s): Akihiro Kakezawa, Minoru N. Tamura, Kiyokazu Agata, Wataru Shinohara
  • Journal Title: Plant Systematics and Evolution Volume: 303 Pages: 807-813
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Crossability of a high-mountain dwarf variety of Lysimachia japonica (Primulaceae) endemic to Yakushima Island with its normal-sized lowland counterpart (2017)
  • Author(s): Akihiro Kakezawa, Minoru N. Tamura, Kiyokazu Agata and Wataru Shinohara
  • Journal Title: Plant Systematics and Evolution Volume: 印刷中
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] 屋久島の高山性ミニチュア植物 ヒメコナスビの花弁の細胞サイズと数に関する研究 (2018)
  • Author(s): 池田光一、篠原 渉
  • Organizer: 日本植物分類学会
• [Presentation] 屋久島の高山性ミニチュア植物ヒメコナスビの花弁に関する研究―特に細胞レベルの形質に着目して― (2017)
  • Author(s): 池田光一、篠原 渉
  • Organizer: 香川生物学会総会