Forest Microbiology and Application Division conducts both basic and applicable studies on forest microbial resources, such as symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, wood-decay fungi, phytomicrobiome communities, and mushrooms. We aim at increasing the competitiveness of the domestic microbial industry by discovering new values of forest microbial resources and developing core technologies. Our researches currently focus on the scientific examination of functional microbial resources, three-dimensional interactions between plant-microbiome-environment interactions and their controls, developing new mushroom varieties via digital breeding technology, and so on.
This lab conducts holobiome research that interprets interactions among plantsmicroorganisms-environment based on a variety of bioinformatic data such as DNAs, RNAs, and proteins. The research includes the development of artificial cultivation methods of Tricholoma matsutake using T. matsutake -infected pine seedlings and their diagnostic methods, health improvement of forest ecosystem using soil microbes, the bio-controls of major fungal diseases of Gastrodia elata.
Bioinformatic analysis of plant-microbe-environme nt interactions
Isolation of soil microbes and functional selection
Development of artificial cultivation methods Trich oloma matsutake using T. matsutake -infected pine seedlings
This lab mainly conducts research on the development of new functional mushroom materials by the evaluation of their functions and the discovery of functional biochemicals. In particular, we focus on both Hoelen cultivation technology using wild-fire damaged pine trees and the discovery of new biofunctio ns of forest mushroom extracts.
Development of Hoelen cultivation technology using wild-fire damaged pine trees
Evaluation of bone health improvement effects of Hoelen extracts
Evaluation of anti-obesity effects of cauliflower mushrooms
This lab conducts a variety of mushroom research; 1) Collection, preservation, and distribution of native mushroom resources, 2) Development of cultivation methods, 3) Molecular breeding techniques using genome-wide association study. Two main research mushroom spices are Lentinula edodes and Tricholoma matsutake .
Collection and preservation of mushroom resources
Development of new mushroom varieties using molecular breeding techniques
Development of cultivation methods for forest mushrooms