Why Wild Strawberry Research Matters
Cultivated strawberries, bred for superior taste and appearance, often exhibit reduced resilience to various environmental stresses. To address this, we are turning to the genetically diverse wild strawberries, aiming to extract valuable insights for enhancing cultivated varieties. Our research focuses on the following areas:
> Biotechnological Engineering of Strawberries
Advanced techniques for analyzing gene mechanisms are essential for efficient breeding. Current research focuses on developing recombinant DNA technology and genome editing tools to explore the genetic functions of both wild and cultivated strawberries.
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>Identifying Disease Resistance Genes
Anthracnose poses a significant challenge tåo strawberry growers. Wild strawberry varieties, with their high genetic diversity, are expected to be more resistant to such diseases than cultivated varieties. The development of molecular markers to detect resistance genes using wild strawberry populations is a key goal.
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> Chemical Compounds in Strawberries
Wild strawberries may contain bioactive compounds with health benefits that have yet to be discovered. This project is focused on investigating these functional components and analyzing plant hormones in relation to the physiological state of strawberries.
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> Geographic Distribution of Wild Strawberries in Japan
Understanding genetic variations in wild strawberry populations that may benefit cultivation is a primary research objective. Mapping the geographic distribution of wild strawberries across Japan is being conducted, with emphasis on populations adapted to diverse environmental conditions such as day length and climate.
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> Omics Analysis of Wild Strawberries
Mutational analysis and technology development are underway to elucidate genetic variation in wild strawberry populations. Research is focused on identifying genes with expression levels that fluctuate under specific environmental conditions or in response to diseases such as anthracnose.
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> Utilizing wild strawberries as model plants for research
Strawberries possess traits that make them an excellent model plant for scientific study. By utilizing wild strawberries, this research employs genetic engineering and genome editing to identify genes responsible for traits such as flowering, dormancy, and perpetual fruiting, providing insight into the genetic basis of these important characteristics.