Dormancy mechanism and establishment of flowring promotion method in cherry blossom

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15520
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 39030:Horticultural science-related
• Research Institution: Shimane University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Hideyuki 島根大学, 学術研究院農生命科学系, 准教授 (30738779)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: サクラ自発休眠 / 開花促進 / 周年開花 / 自発休眠打破 / DAM遺伝子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the expression of DAM genes (DAM1-6), which are dormancy-related genes, in several cherry blossom cultivars. This results suggested that DAM4 and DAM6 might be involved in the maintenance of endodormancy in cerry blossom. Cyanamide and hot water treatments, which induce early flowering of cut branches of cherry blossom, reduced the expression of both DAM genes. These results suggested that flowering could be controlled if the expression of both DAMs could be regulated.
The combination of early flowering and flowering suppression techniques could be used to achieve year-round flowering of cut branches of cherry blossom. However, the initial goal of promoting flowering by grafting with rootstock of `Jugatsu-zakura' (Cerasus x subhirtella `Autumnalis') that low DAM expression could not be achieved because rooting of cuttings and the grafts success were not possible.

Free Research Field

施設園芸学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年の地球温暖化により，サクラの開花が不安定になっており，サクラの安定開花技術の確立が求められている．また，サクラは切り枝としても需要が高く，周年開花技術の開発も求められているが，ほとんどの品種で未確立である．それぞれの開花技術の確立には，サクラの休眠機構の解明が必要となり，本研究では休眠に関連している遺伝子の特定およびその遺伝子の制御法について明らかにした．これにより，サクラの安定開花および周年開花技術の確立に大きく貢献できると思われる．また，本研究成果は，サクラの開花予想にも活用できると思われる．