FACULTY RESEARCH ACTIVITY 2014

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50Bioscience and BiotechnologyUsing science to study plants in order to make safe and reliable vegetables at factoriesDivision of Applied BiologyIt is possible to grow plants under artificial conditions based on research on plant cells and the motion of cell organelles, environmentally compatible photosynthesis, and environmental factors that make plants grow more efficiently. Plant factories that grow vegetables in closed systems with a high level of control over the growth environment are garnering attention throughout the world.After completing a research course at the Nagoya University Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Nozue worked in the Shinshu University Faculty of Science’s biology program before taking his current position in the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology’s Bioscience and Biotechnology Course. His area of specialization is plant cell physiology.Risks to the stable supply of agricultural products posed by global warming and natural disasters increase the importance of plant factories. The challenge is to establish an energy-saving plant-growing system, and this is a key area of research in plant science.Outlook for researchGraduates are employed in a wide range of jobs, ranging from working at seedling, food processing, paper manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and food logistics companies to serving as educators or public ocials.Outlook for students after graduationBioscience and BiotechnologyExploring the poorly understood ability of plants to tap their power to enrich our livesDivision of Applied BiologyI am carrying out research into the numerous functions of plants. For instance, plants have the ability to attach sugars such as glucose to substances they produce, store them in cells, and then remove the sugar later when it is required. My lab is examining whether this function can be put to use in medicine through application to the processing of substances.Associate Professor Taguchi took his current position after working as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology at Shinshu University and at the University's DNA research facility. His area of research is applied biochemistry, specically enzyme reactions and DNA analysis related to the production of useful plant materials and their practical application.The plants we are researching have the ability to neutralize hazardous substances to protect themselves, and this ability can be utilized for environmental cleanup. By researching and explaining the power of plants, we can discover numerous capabilities that can be applied in our daily lives.Outlook for researchGraduates are employed by food companies and companies involved in analysis or pharmaceutical products. Many are also employed by agricultural companies.Outlook for students after graduationIt is becoming increasingly dicult to cultivate green horseradish due to global warming. The photograph shows green horseradish seedlings produced in an articial environment (at a plant factory) and planting experiments.Polyphenol compounds stored in the vacuoles of plant cells (a) through (e) and an electron microscope image of chloroplasts (from green horseradish) in which photosynthesis occurs (f)V!"!#!#!$%&'(&)&*+!$,-./&*+#!OOOHOHHOOOHOCOOHOHHOabcdef 56 The leaves of the mulberry tree contain a substance that is eective in lowering blood sugar. We are studying the mechanism by which that substance is created.DNA is extracted from the familiar green horseradish leaf, which contains antioxidants.A student analyzes the base sequence of DNA extracted from a plant.Masayuki NozueProfessorGoro TaguchiAssociate Professor

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