Development of plant light adaptation to weak light

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03033
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 40010:Forest science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Gotoh Eiji 九州大学, 農学研究院, 准教授 (90614256)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 柵状組織細胞の形状 / 葉緑体光定位運動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Understanding the survival strategies of understory vegetation is critical to maintain forest biodiversity and maximize its functions. The applicants studied the shape of palisade cells and the intracellular arrangement of chloroplasts in more than 150 plant species growing on the forest floor of various vegetation types in various regions of Japan. They found that the palisade cell shape is adapted to the light environment. In other words, most plant species growing on the dark forest floor showed cones in their palisade cells. Furthermore, they identified the gene responsible for forming the cone-shaped cells using a plant species with a genetically stable palisade cell shape.

Free Research Field

植物生態生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

鬱蒼とした暗い林床でのみ生育に適している、逆円錐形の柵状組織細胞は、光の効率的な光受容には有効であるが、一方、強光下でも葉緑体が強光を回避し逃避する場所がないため、半日陰や時折強光を直接受ける（木漏れ日のある）場所では生育できない。このことは、柵状組織細胞の形状と葉緑体運動のパターンから、鬱蒼とした暗い林床でのみ生育可能な貴重種を特定することが可能となり、生物多様性の維持や森林生態系の機能を強化する保全対策を立案する上で重要な情報を提供できる。