Elucidation of sexual reproduction in oil-producing algae for cross breeding

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26660179
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic life science
• Research Institution: Osaka Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kawamura Koji 大阪工業大学, 工学部, 准教授 (00595613)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Okada Shigeru 東京大学, 農学生命科学研究科, 准教授 (00224014)
• Research Collaborator: Ardianor University of Palangka Raya, Faculty of Agriculture, Lecturer ; Hendrik Segah University of Palangka Raya, Faculty of Agriculture, Researcher ; Gumiri Sulmin University of Palangka Raya, International Office, Professor
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 交配育種 / 有性生殖 / 微細藻類 / バイオ燃料 / リアルタイムPCR / 減数分裂 / 炭化水素産生藻 / 遺伝資源

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Oil-producing microalgae produce oil such as lipid and hydrocarbon by utilizing solar energy and carbon dioxide (phosynthesis). Microalgal oil can become renewable and carbon-neutral next-generation energy. However, known oil-producing microalgae are not enough efficient to produce oil for mass production. Breeding method should be developed in microalgae for improving the productivity. We therefore aim to uncover the mechanisms of sexual reproduction of oli-producing microalgae for cross breeding and to search novel genetic resources in wild species and strains for materials of breeding. By genomic screening and gene expression analysis, we found an evidence of capability for sexual reproduction in an oil-producing microalga, Botryococcus braunii. We have also developed a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) based technique for detection and quantification of wild B. braunii strains from tropics to temperate regions.

Free Research Field

分子遺伝学