Elucidation of the flowering control mechanism mediated by "aroma" glycosides

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05836
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38030:Applied biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Shizuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Ohnishi Toshiyuki 静岡大学, グリーン科学技術研究所, 教授 (60542165)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 竹内 純 静岡大学, 農学部, 准教授 (00776320)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 配糖体 / 開花 / 揮発性有機化合物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aromatic glycosides have long been thought to be mere storage compounds of "fragrance. Recently, the principal investigator found that aromatic glycosides promote flowering in plants. Flowering, which is a reproductive strategy of plants, and the release of fragrance to attract pollinators have been considered to be completely different events, but the findings strongly suggest that aromatic glycosides are signaling molecules that sequentially regulate flowering and the release of fragrance to attract pollinators (Figure 1). The findings strongly suggest that aromatic glycosides are signaling molecules that sequentially regulate "flowering" and "scent release" to attract pollinators. By elucidating the physiological significance of aromatic glycosides in reproductive events at the molecular level (bioorganic chemical precision), we aimed to propose a new concept of plant reproductive strategy.

Free Research Field

植物化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究課題の学術的意義は，“なぜ植物は香気配糖体を生合成し，貯蔵するのか？その生理学的意義は何か？” である。研究代表者は，植物の生殖イベントに注目し香気配糖体が「開花」と「香気の発散」を逐次的に制御するシグナル分子であることを実証し，植物の生殖システムを化学的側面から理解し深化させ，香気配糖体の生理学的意義を明らかにするブレークスルーにしたい。