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Agricultural Sciences for Human Sustainability

Meeting the Challenges of Food Safety and Stable Food Production

Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

KAISEISHA PRESS

Agricultural Sciences for Human SustainabilityMeeting the Challenges of Food Safety and Stable Food Production

Graduate School of Agriculture,Hokkaido University

KAISEISHA PRESS

The main building of Faculty of Agriculture right after construction (February 21, 1935)

Agricultural Sciences for Human Sustainability

Meeting the Challenges of Food Safety and Stable Food Production


KAISEISHA PRESS

1

To Students of the School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agriculture at Hokkaido University

Hirokazu Matsui Dean of School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

A new path towards your future! Advanced, hands-on study in the Hokkaido University School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agri-culture A brief history of Hokkaido University from its beginning as Sapporo Agricultural College Hokkaido University was established in 1876 as Sapporo Agricultural College and became the first educational institution in Japan to confer a Bachelors degree. Sapporo Agricultural College was based on the provisional school of the Devel-opment Commission established earlier in Zojo-ji Temple in Tokyo (1872), with the expectation that it would take the lead in the reclamation of Hok-kaido. The Sapporo Clock Tower, a popular tourist attraction, was built in 1878 as part of a gymnasi-um for Sapporo Agricultural College. In 1907, Sapporo Agricultural College became Tohoku Im-perial University Agricultural College. It was sub-sequently renamed as Hokkaido Imperial Univer-sity in 1918 where the School of Agriculture was particularly helpful in the scientific development of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in East Asia. In 1947, the University became Hokkaido Univer-sity and included the newly established School of Law and Literature. During the College’s early period, many of the teachers were from the USA and agricultural lec-tures placed emphasis on British and Ameri-can-style large-scale farming and upland farming. One of the first graduates was Dr. Shosuke Sato, who later became a professor of the College and then president of Hokkaido Imperial University. Dr. Sato also spent time at Johns Hopkins University (USA) under the instruction of Professor R.T. Eley, where he developed an interest in the study of German agriculture and was influenced by the his-torical school of economics. As a result of Dr. Sato’s guidance, the educational emphasis in the College shifted in the mid-1890s to small and me-dium-scale farming and rice farming. This led to the development of new land management tech-niques for transforming land into a manageable resource-producing system. It was the beginning of our tradition of practical scientific creativity and exemplifies the academic culture that strives to understand natural laws, topography and the envi-

ronment for improving agricultural strategies.

The Clark Spirit It has been said that the young Sapporo Agri-cultural College was the origin of the modern spirit of Japan. This claim is supported by the words of Dr. Tadao Yanaihara, who was a disciple of Pro-

fessor Inazo Nitobe and who became the second president of the University of Tokyo after World War Two. He said that the college “undertook lib-eral education to nurture an entire human” in Sap-poro, which at the time had a population of less than 2,000. To this background came Professor William Smith Clark who, despite only being at the College for eight months, had a profound in-fluence that can still be felt today. The following words are from a brief history of the College, made public at the San Francisco World Exposition in 1915:

“Boys, be ambitious!” It has become proverbial in the school. "Boys, be ambitious!" Be ambi-tious not for money or for selfish aggrandize-ment, nor for that evanescent thing which men call fame. Be ambitious for knowledge, for righteousness, and for the uplift of your people. Be ambitious for the attainment of all that a man ought to be. This was the message of Professor William Smith Clark (from Paul Rouland).

Prof. William S. Clark Dr. Shosuke Sato

Agricultural Sciences for Human SustainabilityMeeting the Challenges of Food Safety and Stable Food Production

Editorial Committee Chief editor, Yasuyuki Hashidoko

Members Prof. Yasuyuki Hashidoko (Division of Applied Bioscience) Prof. Ryusuke Hatano (Division of Environmental Resources) Prof. Yasuo Kobayashi (Division of Bioresources and Product Science) Prof. Takayoshi Koike (Division of Environmental Resources) Prof. Chikara Masuta (Division of Applied Bioscience) Prof. Noboru Noguchi (Division of Bioresources and Product Science) Prof. Yasutaka Yamamoto (Division of Bioresources and Product Science) Prof. Atsushi Yokota (Division of Applied Bioscience)


KAISEISHA PRESS

© Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University Editorial Comittee 2012First published 2012ISBN978-4-86099-283-5 KAISEISHA PRESSPrinted in Japan

2-16-4 Hiyoshidai, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture 520-0112, JAPANTel: +81-77-577-2677Fax: +81-77-577-2688http://www.kaiseisha-press.ne.jp

To Students of the School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agriculture at Hokkaido University 3

on primary production, and maintaining environ-mental conditions for human existence. Without adequate food there is no food safety or security. The tasks that we should tackle now are these: preparation of the production environment and well-balanced development of areas including farming and mountain villages, forest and coastal areas; promotion of labor-saving technologies; de-velopment and establishment of new breeds that can be grown regardless of rapid changes in the production environment; development of pest pre-ventive measures; creation of functional ingredi-ents from animals and plants; further utilization of microbes; utilization and application of biomass; and scientific analysis and promotion of organic farming. Nature is still rich in Hokkaido. Let us cherish stirring dreams of this land, and promote sound, down-to-earth studies. We can make a con-tribution to the betterment of human life with our own hands.

Our mission The mission of the School of Agriculture and the Graduate School of Agriculture of Hokkaido University is not limited to agriculture in Hokkaido. Hokkaido falls between the northerly latitudes of 42 and 45 degrees, a similar region to many other cities of advanced nations. This zone is where hu-man activity has influenced nature over a long time. We have much in common with the world’s agri-culture research areas. Today, when the entire world has no choice but to coexist as a community bound together by a common fate, we must not forget that our predecessors have worked hard and made great contributions to the development of agricultural techniques and to environmental con-servation in East Asia, in cold areas, and around the world. Also, as a graduate university that puts emphasis on research, we must keep our eyes on what happens abroad. Our research is partly driven by curiosity. Of course, that is not the only purpose of those who study agriculture. The goal is to pursue human welfare and create a world in which everybody can live happily. To that end, we study the rich nature of Hokkaido, and make use of what natural re-sources we have acquired. We seek to bring about stable environmental conditions for human exist-ence and stable resources of air, water, food and wood. We intend to address the fundamental issues in order to create a sustainable society. We shall not become over-enthused or despair at immediate matters. Instead, we shall imagine what we wish to be like in 5 or 10 years and endeavor to achieve that goal. Let us – the students and faculty member of the School of Agriculture, Graduate School of Agriculture, and the Research Faculty of

Agriculture at Hokkaido University – work to-gether to solve pressing problems for people in all parts of the world and for all future global citizens.

References in Japanese 1) Ebina K. (2007) The father of Hokkaido University：

Shosuke Sato, Nishida Shoten, 221pp. 2) Fujita S. (2011) Education spirit of Sapporo Agricultur-

al College where Dr. Inazo Nitobe had been studying. Sapporo Alumni Magazine, 20, 5–41.

3) Kuromatsunai-Education Bureau. (1993) Palm trees in the north, Gyosei Publisher, 71pp.

4) Matsui H. (2011) Toward 22nd century. Sapporo Alum-ni Magazine, 20, 1–4.

5) Tajima K. (2007) Proposal of opening the lecture on Clarkii Spirit in Agricultural School of Hokkaido Uni-versity. Sapporo Alumni Magazine, 18, 71–74.

6) Uchimura K. (1946) Commented by Norihisa Suzuki (2011), Best heritage for younger generation: From the experience of Denmark, Iwanami-shoten, Tokyo.

The symbolic building of Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

2 To Students of the School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agriculture at Hokkaido University

Furthermore, there was only one school regula-tion in Sapporo Agricultural College: Be gentle-men! You should know that your action involves responsibility. This is part of our heritage that we now refer to as the Clark Spirit. It is to seek for freedom, equality and philanthropy, to look at things from the viewpoint of the weak, with un-conquerable spirit that insists on justice. This is the spirit of our campus. A verse from the dormitory song Miyakozo Yayoi, which we are fond of singing, runs: “Hito no yo no Kiyoki Kuni zo to Akogare nu (We long for the northern place as a pure place in the human world.)” This reminds us of the ideals of the Clark Spirit.

Philosophy of the School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agriculture The attitude toward study taken at the School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agriculture of Hokkaido University comes from the words of instructors who were in Sapporo with Prof. W.F. Clark in those early days. Thomas Antisell once said that lectures at school and books are only knowledge about past inventions. He stated that “those who want to be scholars must make it fundamental to ask questions, study ways to solve them, invent, and make pro-gress, and that they must not believe that lectures and books are perfect.” William Wheeler preached the necessity of education in developing an understanding of theo-ries and developing skill in applied practices. He said that “knowledge without thought goes no-where, and that knowledge with thoughts can be a resource that never runs out.” He aimed to control and stabilize land in a catchment, summarizing his philosophy in the words “Learn from nature.” William Penn Brooks said that “a person who can consider, from his knowledge and theories, what the cause of newly observed phenomenon is and clarify the causation, is a far more valuable and precious talent than those who are merely knowledgeable.” One of the early graduates, Professor Inazo Nitobe, who studied agricultural economics and believed in pacifism, wrote, “With malice toward none, with charity for all”. He wrote the book “Bushido: The Soul of Japan” and introduced Jap-anese spirituality and identity to the wider world. He studied English, stating his motivation that “I wish to be a bridge across the pacific.” Another early graduate, Kanzou Uchimura, concluded his book titled “The Greatest Relic for Posterity” with the words, “...what is the true greatest relic which can be left for however many people? It is a life of brave dignity.”

Our goal Let me remind you of the four basic philoso-phies of Hokkaido University: “The Frontier Spirit,” “Global Perspectives,” “Humanity Education” and “Practical Learning.” For more than 130 years now, we have advocated these words as our philosophy of education and study. Today we face serious global resource issues, specifically “food problems,” “environmental problems” and “energy problems.” Each of us must act properly as a global citizen. Agricultural stud-ies have developed by continuous scientific re-search into primary production in agriculture, for-estry and fisheries. Today its domain has widened into the fields of environment and life sciences. In 2011 the world population exceeded 7 billion. On the other hand, the world’s total cultivated area was 1,400 million hectares and the total world food production was 2,200 million tons, values which have scarcely increased over the last 4 decades. This discrepancy will be a critical issue for human-ity in the 21st century. Having been involved in developing Hokkaido prefectural regulations regarding genetic modifica-tion since 2004 as chairperson of the relevant body, I am particularly interested in food safety and se-curity. It derives from the stable maintenance and improvement of resource production systems based

Prof. Inazo Nitobe. The portrait with his statement

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Contents To Students of the School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agriculture at Hokkaido University ··· 1 A Brief History of the Special Postgraduate Program in the Graduate School of Agriculture ··················· 7 Part I. Agrochemical and Molecular Approach — from globe to molecule — ········································· 9 1. Balancing Agricultural Load and Environmental Capacity ··················································· 10 2. Plant Nutrition······················································································································ 14 3. Applied Microbiology ·········································································································· 16 4. Virus-Plant Interactions ········································································································ 20 5. Natural Product Chemistry ··································································································· 22 6. Ecological Chemistry ··········································································································· 26 7. Food Nutrition······················································································································ 30 8. Search for α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Southeast Asian Plants ········································ 32 9. Dietary Modulation of Host-Bacterial Mutualism in the Gut ················································ 34 10. Microbial Physiology ··········································································································· 36 11. Mycorrhizal Symbiosis ········································································································ 40 12. Molecular Mechanism of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes and Their Application ················· 42 13. Biosynthesis of Saccharides and Their Engineering with Enzymes ······································ 46 14. Studies using Arabidopsis, a Toolbox to Know the Unknowns ············································· 48 15. Applied Molecular Entomology ··························································································· 52 16. Microbial Genetic Resources and Functional Protein Manufacturing ··································· 56 17. Lessons from Biologically Active Small Molecules ····························································· 58 18. Biorefinery of Woody Biomass ···························································································· 62 19. Chemical Biology ················································································································ 65 Part II. Sustainable Crop Production and Land Use — from global to local — ······································ 69

Section 1. Agricultural and Resource Economics ············································································· 70 1. Economic Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Policy ············································· 70 2. Farm Business Development under Agricultural Policy Reform ·········································· 73 3. Diffusion of New Agricultural Technology and Common Property Resource Management · 75 4. Socio-Economic Approaches for Cooperative Associations, Farmer’s Organizations

and Rural Development ········································································································ 78 5. Study of Marketing and Distribution of Food and Agriculture ············································· 81 6. Study of Fisheries Management and Fisheries Household Economics·································· 83

Section 2. Gene Engineering of Crop and Animal Production ·························································· 85 1. Plant Breeding ······················································································································ 85 2. Horticultural Science ············································································································ 87 3. Cold Hardiness of Trees ······································································································· 89 4. Plant Cell Engineering ········································································································· 90 5. Structure and Function of the Plant Nuclear Envelope ························································· 94 6. Horizontal Gene Transfer to the Plant Mitochondrial Genome ············································· 96 7. The Mechanisms of Occurrence and Control of Soilborne Diseases of Crops ······················ 98 8. Potential of Polar Lipids from Bovine Milk to Regulate Rodent Dorsal Hair Cycle ············· 99 9. Animal Nutrition and Gut Microbiology ············································································ 100 10. Studying Biological Phenomena Expressed at the Individual Level ··································· 102

This means to “Continue your efforts without rush, but in a dedicated and thoughtful

manner to achieve your goals.”

7

A Brief History of the Special Postgraduate Program in the Graduate School of Agriculture

Head of the Program, Prof. Dr. Atsushi Yokota This chapter briefly reviews the history of the Special Postgraduate Program and describes the programs that have been conducted up to present.

1. Historical aspect The Special Postgraduate Program for foreign students in the Graduate School of Agriculture has a fairly long history of 15 years. The first version of the program, “The Special Postgraduate Pro-gram in Agricultural Chemistry”, was started in October 1997 as the first special program at Hok-kaido University. A total of 10 laboratories within the Division of Agricultural Chemistry participated in the program. The second phase of this special program followed from April 2002 until March 2007, during which time 5 more laboratories joined to bring the number of participating labora-tories to 15. The current program, “The Special Postgraduate Program in Bio-systems Sustainabil-ity”, is the third-phase program, initially estab-lished for 5 years in April 2007 but extended 1 more year to 2012. These programs consisted of a master's course of study and a doctoral course with the special allocation of 5 research students re-ceiving scholarships from the Japanese Govern-ment for each course (10 scholarship students in total) each year, together with a few personally funded students.

2. Concept The current program provides a unique combi-nation of classes from diverse fields, such as food production, health and environmental sciences, to educate students in areas urgently needed to ad-vance to preserve and sustainably utilize our lim-ited global resources to ensure our future quality of life. Toward this goal, we enroll students from Southeast Asian countries, China and Korea, train them in bioscience and environmental science, after which, they return to their countries as ex-perts who serve in their countries' development. Due to the nature of the program, the language to be used in all educational and research activities is English.

3. Laboratories in this program The following 16 laboratories are participating to educate students in 4 divisions of the Graduate School of Agriculture (Bio-systems Sustainability, Agrobiology, Applied Bioscience, Environmental

Resources): Plant Nutrition (including Rhizosphere Control), Soil Science, Forest Chemistry, Patho-gen-Plant Interactions, Applied Molecular Ento-mology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Enzymol-ogy, Natural Product Chemistry, Molecular Eco-logical Chemistry, Wood Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Applied Microbiology, Mi-crobial Physiology, Nutritional Biochemistry, Food Biochemistry, and Molecular Environmental Mi-crobiology.

4. Description of the programs Enrollment After full discussion with the host professor, each applicant submits a set of application docu-ments, and these are evaluated at a meeting of the professors of the program. The final decision for admission is made at a faculty meeting of the Graduate School of Agriculture. In many cases, prescreening of the candidates is conducted using a network of alumni of this program, because many alumni are working as university staff members and researchers. As of October 2011, a total of 148 students have been enrolled in the programs (1997–2011). The distribution of their home countries is shown in Fig. 1. The top 5 countries were China, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea and Bangladesh. Looking at the distribution of home countries within the current program (newly arrived 53 students, 2007–2011), Indonesia is most common and China is second

Fig. 1. Distribution of the home countries of the students enrolled into the special programs during 1997 to 2011.

6 Contents

Section 3. Bio-Resources Production and Sustainable Land-Use ··················································· 104 1. Soil Physical Phenomena ··································································································· 104 2. Control and New Design of Agricultural Machinery for Biomass Production ···················· 106 3. Vehicle Robotics ················································································································ 108 4. Postharvest Engineering and Food Process Engineering ···················································· 110 5. Creation and Planning of Landscape Harmonizing with Nature and Human Activity ········· 112 6. Forest Policy ······················································································································ 114 7. Human Impact on Erosion and Water Resources ································································ 116 8. Planted Forests and Biodiversity ························································································ 118 9. Carbon Dioxide Exchange between the Atmosphere and Terrestrial Ecosystems ··············· 120 10. Silviculture and Forest Ecology in a Changing Environment ············································· 121 11. Restoration Biology ··········································································································· 123 12. Anatomical Studies of Woody Plants ················································································· 125 13. Utilization of Wood as an Environment-Compatible Material ············································ 127 Keyword Index ···································································································································· 129 List of Authors ····································································································································· 131 Postface ··············································································································································· 133 Acknowledgments ······························································································································· 133 学院長からのメッセージ (Message from Dean) ················································································ 135 Columns:

Magnaporthe oryzae, the Fungal Pathogen Responsible for Rice Blast ··········································· 19 Genomic Resources from Microorganisms ······················································································ 35 Molecular and Biological Technology ····························································································· 55 Exploration and Utilization of Energy Crops ··················································································· 86 Mashroom Cultivation with Agroforestrial Wastes ··········································································· 93 Symbiotic and Parasitic Mushrooms ································································································ 97 Horticultural Crops with Molecular Breeding ················································································ 103 Sustainable Crop Production System ······························································································ 111 Green Manure and its Nutrient Availability ···················································································· 117

9

Part I. Agrochemical and Molecular Approach

— from globe to molecule —

8 A Brief History of the Special Postgraduate Program in the Graduate School of Agriculture

(Fig. 2). The number of students in the program gradually increased from 36 in 2008 to 41 in 2011, accounting for roughly 45% of the total foreign students in the Graduate School of Agriculture. This gradual increase was due to a 3-fold increase in self-funded students, while the number of gov-ernment scholarship students (special allocation plus embassy recommendation) remained fairly constant (~30). The magnitude of the increase ap-peared to be far greater than the average increase in self-funded foreign students in universities in Japan (1.2-fold, 2007–2011), suggesting that the program attracts foreign students quite effectively. Curriculum Thirty credits are required to complete the mas-ter's course and 12 credits are required for the doctoral course. While operating the program, at-tempts were made to increase the number of clas-ses provided in English. One of the big achieve-ments was the reorganization of the curriculum in 2010, in which, as a rule, all the lectures were re-quested to be conducted at least partly in English. Of the 126 classes offered in the Graduate School of Agriculture, 60 classes (compulsory and elec-tive) were listed as classes that are applicable to the current program. Of these 60 classes, 52 were for the master's course and 8 were for the doctoral course of study. Currently, half of the classes in the master's and doctoral courses are offered com-pletely in English, and the rest are offered partly in English; that is, materials used in the lecture are written in English, but the lecture itself is given in Japanese. Thus, much effort is needed to increase the number of classes conducted completely in English. Support for foreign students In order to facilitate adaptation into the program and communication among the students, the fol-lowing supporting events are among those offered: an orientation for new entrants, a welcome party, a graduation ceremony for master's course students (a photo of the ceremony in 2009 is shown on page 68), and publication of a course directory.

Conferring degrees In this program, students must complete the master's course within two years and the doctoral course within three years. Students are also asked to publish at least 1 article before defending their main thesis. These rules provide all the staff and students in this program strong motivation and a goal-focused mindset. Thus, throughout the pro-gram, all of the master's course students (~85) have completed the program on schedule, and very few

students in the doctoral course (a few out of ~82), and only in the first phase of this program, have failed complete on schedule.

5. Employment after completing the program Almost all of the master's course students con-tinue on to study in the doctoral course. As of April 2011, 95 graduates have gotten a job during the three phases of the program. The distribution of their current jobs is as follows: academic staff (30%), national institute employee (18%), post-doctoral fellow (17%), private company employee (16%), and other position (19%). The distribution shows that 65% of the students completing the program are working at a university or national institute as researchers, in many cases in the field of agriculture, biotechnology or environmental science. This leads to the conclusion that the spe-cial programs are quite successful and in accord-ance with the concept of the program.

6. Concluding remarks The continued operation of the special program for the past 15 years has positively to have con-tributed to the internationalization of Hokkaido University. The presence of this special program over such a long term has created an awareness among staff and students that it is necessary to further improve the education of foreign students. The fact that many laboratories that are not neces-sarily participating in the special program have contributed to this book symbolizes a common desire to achieve this goal. There is still a long way to go, but stepwise efforts are underway to estab-lish a better system.

Fig. 2. Distribution of the home countries of the students enrolled into the current program (2007 to 2011).

Part I. Agrochemical and Molecular Approach 11

water discharge. This indicates that NO3− was

transported by a fast water flow of subsurface and surface runoff rather than by a slow flow of groundwater, suggesting a decrease in the contri-bution of denitrification or capture of N runoff in the watershed.2) A modelling approach for evalu-ating the contribution of denitrification activity in riparian zones has also been conducted.

2. Modeling greenhouse gases emissions from agricultural watersheds Greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, CH4) are pro-duced in soil through carbon and nitrogen trans-formation by soil microbes, and they are trans-ported through soil along air-filled continuous pores according to the laws of diffusion. Therefore, emission of greenhouse gases from soil is strongly influenced by soil physicochemical properties, land use and land management. Soil with different water regimes distributed along its topography in a watershed is a main factor in determining land use. However, improvement of drainage and ameliora-tion of soil layers have made identical land uses possible in all types of soil. This means that greenhouse gas emissions depend on differences in soil type for land under the same climate condi-tions. Therefore, it is necessary to describe green-house gas emissions as a function of soil properties. Also, climate conditions vary from year to year. It is necessary to describe greenhouse gas emissions as a function of climate conditions. This study aims to model greenhouse gases emissions using soil properties and climate conditions as parame-ters for more accurate prediction of greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural watersheds. Fluxes of CO2 associated with organic matter decomposition in soil measured in 11 upland fields with 4 soil types increased positively with soil temperature but did not correlate with soil moisture. Significant negative contributions of soil C:N and texture to the CO2 flux were found in some fields. Annual CO2 emission was significantly correlated with clay + silt content using a quadratic function, indicating that at clay plus silt content ≤63%, CO2 emission increased with increasing clay + silt con-tent, while at clay plus silt content >63%, CO2 emission decreased with increasing clay + silt content. Soil texture is an important controlling factor for microbial activity in soil. In paddy fields, there was a significant correla-tion between straw C application rate and annual CH4 emission, indicating that 50% of applied straw C is emitted as CH4 from paddy soil. Emission of N2O was derived from 3 sources: chemical N ferti-lizer, amended organic matter, and soil organic matter. Emission Factor (EF, ratio of N2O emission

to N application rate of chemical N fertilizer, amended organic matter) derived from chemical N fertilizer correlated with mean annual air tempera-ture, while for amended organic matter, EF corre-lated with mean annual relative humidity in 2 fields for 4 years.3) However, N2O emissions from amended organic matter decreased with an increase in C:N of the organic matter. Background N2O emission from soil organic matter decomposition was strongly correlated with CO2 emission. Plots of total N2O emission against chemical N fertilizer application rate + mineralized N with organic mat-ter decomposition showed a significant exponential relationship.4) A Geographical Information System (GIS) based model predicting regional greenhouse gas emissions can be established using empirical models for emission of each greenhouse gas (Fig. 2).

3. Effect of manure application on greenhouse gas emissions Soil organic C in a crop field is reduced in as-sociation with harvest if crop residues do not compensate for the amount of C released with soil organic matter decomposition. Since the Industrial Revolution, 39 Gt C has been emitted due to land use change from deforestation and agricultural land exploitation, which accounts for 14% of total C emission. Soil organic C plays a role in main-taining soil structure by bridging soil mineral par-ticles, so the reduction of soil organic C is an index of soil degradation. Manure application is thought to maintain soil organic C, but long-term studies evaluating the effect of manure application on soil organic C are very limited, and studies of effects on the emission of non-CO2 greenhouse gases is also required. One study in this program aims to quantitatively evaluate the effect of manure appli-cation on the budget of greenhouse gases using the eddy covariance method and the chamber method. Application rates of manure and chemical N ferti-

Fig. 2. Difference in global warming potential (GWP) in Ikusyunbetsu watershed between 2005 and 2007. GWP was calculated as CH4 emission (paddy field) × 16/12 × 25 + N2O emission × 44/14 × 298 + CO2 emission × 44/12.

10 Part I. Agrochemical and Molecular Approach

1. Balancing Agricultural Load and Environmental Capacity Ryusuke Hatano, Professor (Laboratory of Soil Science)

Keywords: carbon cycle; environmental load; greenhouse gas; nitrogen cycle; water pollution Introduction Agriculture impacts material cycling in soil through tillage, fertilization and harvest. Tillage, which is conducted to improve soil structure, in-corporates organic matter and oxygen into soil. Soil structure is stabilized due to the aggregation of soil particles by humus and is strengthened due to coating of the aggregates by humus. Macropores between soil aggregates enhance water drainage, supply oxygen to plant roots, and stimulate aerobic soil microbes, while fine capillary pores inside soil aggregates retain water, supply water to plant roots, and feed anaerobic soil microbes. Harvesting plants removes nutritional elements from fields, so fertilization by chemical fertilizers and manure is indispensable for sustained crop production. However, agricultural activities temporarily bare the ground and cause high nutrient concentrations in the soil. This may cause nutrient discharge to the aquasphere and greenhouse gas emissions to at-mosphere. In the Soil Science Laboratory, studies of land use impact on environmental material load are conducted.

1. Controlling factors of nitrogen load from non-point sources The pathway of water discharge in a watershed consists of groundwater flow, surface runoff and later, lateral flow through the soil, so it is difficult to specify the water discharge from a certain land area in the watershed. Therefore, nitrogen runoff in the watershed is studied as non-point source pollu-tion. Rainfall events when the ground is bare due to tilling, fertilizing or harvesting causes a signifi-cant amount of nitrogen runoff to rivers and nitrate leaching to groundwater, resulting in eutrophica-tion near seashores and drinking water pollution. Soils in upland fields are aerobic and produce NO3

−, which is easily leached. On the other hand, soils in paddy fields and wetlands are anaerobic, with reduced amounts of NO3

− so that the loss of N is in the form of N2 and N2O gases to the atmos-phere. It is thought that N runoff to rivers from wetlands and riparian zones can be decreased by trapping and reducing the N compound runoff from upland fields. Therefore, N runoff to rivers in the watershed can be controlled by the N balance between N input and N output, the water flow pathway, and N transformation. This study aims to

clarify how to manage these controlling factors to decrease N runoff to rivers. There has been a significant correlation be-tween the proportion of upland field and stream NO3

− concentration in each agricultural watershed investigated. The regression slopes were then de-fined as an impact factor (IF), as these appeared to be an index of impact on stream water quality. The IF significantly correlated with the cropland sur-plus N. However, two watersheds of grass-land-based dairy cattle farmlands with similar cropland surplus N showed significantly different IF, with the IF higher in the watershed with a lower wetland proportion (Fig. 1). Denitrification activity was higher in the wetland and riparian zones than in managed grassland. Wetlands in the watershed might contribute to reduced NO3

− runoff. 1) Annual stream N runoff measured in five sub-watersheds of the Shibetsu River watershed was significantly correlated to net N input (NNI) in the sub-watersheds. The regression slope showed that the stream N runoff accounted for 27% of NNI. Plots of published data collected in the US and EU coincided with this correlation. Nitrogen not dis-charged to streams might be denitrified. The peak stream NO3

− runoff was narrower than the peak of

Fig. 1. Relationship between the proportion of uplands in drainage basins and NO3-N con-centration in stream water in the Akkeshi and Shibetsu catchments. Error bars represent standard deviation over 4 seasons.


enzymatic and GC-MS methods.

References 1) Katayama T, Tanaka M, Moriizumi J, Nakamura T,

Brouchkov A, Douglas TA, Fukuda M, Tomita F, and Asano K. (2007), Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacteria Preserved in a Permafrost Ice Wedge for 25,000 Years, Applied & Envi-ronmental Microbioogy, 73, 2360–2363.

2) Katayama T, Kato T, Tanaka M, Douglas TA, Brouchkov A, Fukuda M, Tomita F, and Asano K. (2009) Glaciibacter superstes gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Microbacteriaceae isolated from a permafrost ice wedge. International Journal of Systematic & Evolutionary Micro-

biology, 59, 482–486. 3) Katayama T, Kato T, Tanaka M, Douglas AT, Brouchkov A,

Abe A, Sone T, Fukuda M, and Asano K. (2010) Tomitella biformata gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the subor-der Corynebacterineae isolated from a permafrost ice wedge. International Journal of Systematic & Evolutionary Micro-biology, 60, 2803–2807.

4) Minamida K, Kaneko M, Ohashi M, Sujaya IN, Sone T, Wada M, Yokota A, Hara H, Asano K, and Tomita F. (2005) Effects of difructose anhydride III (DFA III) administration on bile acids and growth of DFA III-assimilating bacterium Ruminococcus productus on rat intestine. Journal of Biosci-ence & Bioengineering, 99, 548–554.

Column: Magnaporthe oryzae, the Fungal Pathogen Responsible for Rice Blast Magnaporthe oryzae, an ascomycetous fungus, is the causal agent of rice blast that accounts for app. 10 % of the total loss of the rice crop, and recognized as the most devastating disease of rice. Infection of the fungus is started by the attachment of conidia onto the rice leaf in a dewdrop. Germi-nation of conidia is followed by the differentiation of appressorium, a specified cell for the penetra-tion (Fig. 1a). Using an enormous turgor pressure up to 8MPa, fungal cell penetrates into the rice cell, followed by the generation of new conidia on the surface of the infected rice cell for the next infec-tion. Infected cells cause necrosis and forms lesion, which is a typical symptom of the disease (Fig. 1b). Infection at leaf of young rice plant is often fol-lowed by infection of panicle and cause serious loss of the rice crop. In order to control the disease, fungicides and resistant cultivars have been developed, but their longevity was prevented by frequent mutation of the pathogen. The breakdown of the resistant cul-tivar has been recorded many times, typically sev-eral years after the release of the new cultivar. Magnaporthe genes involved in the resistant culti-var breakdown are avirulence (AVR) genes, which participate with corresponding resistance (R) genes in Gene-for-Gene theory. A pathogen that carries an AVR gene cannot invade the host plant with the corresponding R gene. Mutaions which cause the loss of function of AVR genes are responsible for the breakdown of resistance and important re-search subject for the sutainable use of resistant rice cultivars. Several AVR genes have been cloned from the fungus and spontaneous mutations of them are re-

vealed as deletion, insertion of transposons, in ad-dition to point mutations. Interestingly, during in-fection, DNA of the fungus suffers double strand break, which causes recombination for the repair (Fig. 1c). Control of DNA recombination and transposon activity will be a novel strategy for the disease control.

Teruo Sone, Associate Professor (Laboratory of Applied Microbiology)

Fig. 1. Rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. a) A Conidium and an appressorium formed on plastic surface. CON = conidium, APP = Appressorium. b) Lesions on rice leaf. c) DNA breaks detected during the infection using Rhm51:GFP foci (arrows), which appear at the DNA double strand break. Right panel shows the infective hyphae formed in the rice leaf sheath cells, and left panel shows GFP fluorescence of the same field. APP = Appressorium, HI = infective hyphae. Scale bar = 10 µm.


results suggested that the increase in the acetic acid pool mainly contributes to the lowered cecal pH as a result of DFAIII administration. The DGGE gel profiles Representative DGGE profiles of rats consuming control diets (profile C) and 3% DFAIII test diet for 4 weeks (profile D) are shown in Fig. 3. Each band in the same position on the gel correlated with the same closest relative bacteria. Band no. 10 correlated with many close relatives but with low similarity. Figure two shows the results obtained using V3 region pri-mers (a) and the Bacteroides-specific primers (b). Band nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 represent Bacteroides spp. The bands determined in DGGE were very few: seven bands (band nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, and l0) in control-fed rats and six bands (band nos. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9) in DFAIII-fed rats. The DGGE banding patterns in con-trol-fed rats did not differ among individuals. The pat-terns of DFAIII-fed rats were also similar to each other. The reasons for these observations can probably be attributed to using specific pathogen-free (SPF) rats in this study and feeding them under the same environ-mental conditions. In order to find the cause of the increased amount of SCFAs, we tried to isolate DFAIII-assimilating bac-teria in cecal contents. The diluted cecal contents were inoculated onto the isolation media containing bromocresol purple and incubated at 37oC for 2d in an anaerobic chamber. Consequently, colonies with yel-low zones were detected from the DFAIII-fed rats and the count was l09 cfu/g wet cecal contents. The isolates are strictly anaerobic gram-positive elliptic cocci, and occur in pairs or in short chains. They showed 98% similarity in sequence data with Ruminococcus productus ATCC 27340T (L76595). One of them was isolated and named Ruminococcus sp. M-1

(AB125231). This strain was similar to the closest rel-ative of band no. 7 in Fig. 2, and the intensity of band no. 7 increased by DFAIII administration. The closest relatives of band no. 3 (Bacteroides vulgatus AB050111) and no. 5 (Bacteroides uniformis AB050110) were increased by DFAIII administration as shown in Fig. 2 but were not isolated as DFAIII-assimilating bacteria. DGGE analysis Representative DGGE profiles of the DFAIII-fed rats (D-3 and D-7) are shown in Fig. 4. The bands with arrows indicate bacteria related to R. productus M-2 (AB196512, 100%). The band representing R. productus in the D-3 and D-7 profiles appeared on day 1 and increased in intensity thereafter. The growth of R. productus affected changes in the other bands, and in particular, the bands in the lower part of the DGGE profiles. These bands were not identified. Bile acids in fecal samples The composition of bile acids in fecal samples on days 11 to 14 was analyzed. The concentration of hyodeoxycholic acid (1.73 ± 0.44 µmol/g dry feces) was the highest among the components of total bile acids in the control-fed rats and that of β-muricholic acid (1.34 ± 0.22 µmol/g dry feces) was highest in the DFAIII-fed rats. In the control-fed rats, secondary bile acids (2.61 ± 0.55 µmol/g dry feces) accounted for 94% of the total bile acids (2.77 ± 0.56 µmol/g dry feces), while primary bile acids (1.54 ± 0.26 µmol/g dry feces) accounted for 94% of the total (1.66 ± 0.30 µmol/g dry feces) in the DFAIII-fed rats. DFAIII in-gestion changed the composition of fecal bile acids and increased the ratio of primary bile acids. The concen-tration of total bile acids in the DFAIII-fed rats was lower than that of the control-fed rats based on the

Fig. 3. The growth of R. productus and the ratio of DFAIII excreted in feces were determined using TaqMan real-time PCR and HPLC (means ± SE, n = 6). The character D represents the DFAIII-fed rats and C represents the control-fed rats.

Fig. 4. DGGE profiles of fecal microbiota ob-tained from DFAIII-fed rats (D-3，D-7). The picture is the negative image of a DGGE gel stained using SYBR Green I nucleic acid gel stain. The arrows indicate the bands of R. productus M-2 (AB196512) (relative similarity, 100%).


4) Kojima K, Oritani K, Nakatsukasa T, Asano S, Sahara K, and Bando H. (2007) Ecdysone response element in a baculovirus immediate early gene, ie1, promoter, Vi-rus Research, 130, 202–209.

5) Yamaguchi T, Sahara K, Bando H, and Asano S. (2010) Intramolecular proteolytic nicking and binding of Ba-cillus thuringiensis Cry8Da toxin in BBMVs of Japa-nese beetle. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 105, 243–247.

Questions 1. Describe the advantages and disadvantages in the

production of recombinant mammalian proteins in insect cells.

2. What are the major differences between chemical pesticides and microbial pesticides?

Column: Molecular and Biological Technology We have been constructing a unique and pow-erful protein expression system based on the bud-ding yeast, S. cerevisiae at low temperatures. The expression of proteins at a low temperature is highly beneficial owing to its inhibitory effects on protein degradation and insolubilization. We are now improving our protein expression system based on the budding yeast and constructing a novel protein expression system using microoraganisms suitable for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. A bioassay using a reporter protein and bioimaging are important technologies for visual-izing gene expression and molecular dynamics in living cells quantitatively and in real time, respec-tively. We have developed a novel yeast reporter assay suitable for high-throughput assay with a novel secretory luciferase. Furthermore, we are developing luminescent probes with luciferase that can be used to monitor the metabolism and stress response in cells.

Naoki Morita, Associate Professor

(Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbi-ology)

Construction of high-level protein ex-pression system in microorganisms using genomic information.


with histones in mammalian cells, where deacetylation probably suppressed transcription from the viral genomic DNA. These results again emphasize the significance of studying the molec-ular details of baculovirus-mammalian cell interac-tions to facilitate the use of baculoviruses in agrobiological, pharmaceutical and medical fields.

4. Development of microbial pesticides Recently, the number of biological pesticides making their way to the marketplace have been increasing and finding their place in integrated pest management. This laboratory is interested in entomopathogenic microorganisms as potential agents for insect control. Bacterial pathogens used for insect control are spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria in the genus Bacillus. They occur com-monly in soils, and most insecticidal strains have been isolated from soil samples. Bacterial insecti-cides must be eaten by target insects to be effec-tive; they are not contact poisons. Insecticidal products composed of a single Bacillus species or subspecies may be active against an entire order of insects, or they may be effective against only one or a few species. For example, products containing Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki INA02 isolated in Indonesia kill the larval stage of butterflies and moths, B. thuringiensis var. aizawai Bun1–14 iso-lated in Indonesia kill the larval stage of mosquitos and flies, and B. thuringiensis var. galleriae SDS-502 isolated in Japan kill the larval and adult stage of beetles. In contrast, Paenibacillus popilliae var. popilliae (milky disease) isolated in Japan kills Japanese beetle larvae but is not effec-tive against the closely related annual white grubs (masked chafers) that infest lawns (Table 1). The microbial insecticides most widely used in Japan since the 1980s are preparations of the bac-

terium B. thuringiensis (Bt). Bt products are pro-duced commercially in large industrial fermenta-tion tanks. The bacterial cells usually produce a spore and a crystalline protein toxin, called an en-dotoxin, as they develop. Most commercial Bt products contain the protein toxin and spores, but some contain only the toxin. When Bt is ingested by a susceptible insect, the toxin is activated by alkaline conditions and enzyme activity in the in-sect's gut. If the activated toxin attaches to specific receptor sites, it paralyzes and destroys the cells of the gut wall, allowing the gut contents to enter the insect's body cavity. Infected insects die quickly from the activity of the toxin or stop feeding. Bt may multiply in the infected host, but because few spores or crystalline toxins are produced, few in-fective units are released when a poisoned insect dies. Consequently, Bt products are applied much like synthetic insecticides. Bt treatments are inac-tivated within one to a few days in many outdoor situations, and repeated applications may be nec-essary for some crops and pests. Since the 1990s, insecticidal cry genes were introduced into some so-called Bt crops in developing countries.

References 1) Isobe R, Kojima K, Matsuyama T, Quan GX, Kanda T,

Tamura T, Sahara K, Asano SI, and Bando H. (2004) Use of RNAi technology to confer enhanced resistance to BmNPV on transgenic silkworms. Archives of Virol-ogy, 149, 1931–1940.

2) Fujita R, Matsuyama T, Yamagishi J, Sahara K, Asano S, and Bando H. (2006) Gene expression of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) in mammalian cells and upregulation of host β-actin gene. Journal of Virology, 80, 2390–2395.

3) Ono C, Nakatsukasa T, Nishijima Y, Asano S, Sahara K, and Bando H. (2007) Construction of the BmNPV T3 bacmid system and its application to the functional analysis of BmNPV he65. Journal of Insect Biotech-nology & Sericology, 76, 161–167.

Fig. 2. DNA microarray analysis using Cy5-la-beled cDNA probes. The cDNA probes were synthe-sized from total RNA extracted from AcMNPV-infected host insect cells (at an MOI of 1) at the indicated times post-infection (h.p.i.).

Table 1. The list of cry genes isolated in our laboratory cry gene Strain name Reference cry1Db wuhanensis J. Seric. Sci. Jpn., 68, 195–199cry1Ia kurstaki

INA02 Curr. Microbiol., 32, 195–200

cry2Aa sotto SKW Curr. Microbiol., 34, 1–8 cry8Da galleriae

SDS-502 Biol. Control, 28, 191–196

cry8Db BBT2-5 J. Invertebrate Pathol., 99, 257–262cry21Ba roskildiensis Jpn. J. Nematol., 34, 79–88 cry30Ba entomocidus

INA288 Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72, 5673–5676

cry39Aa aizawai Bun1-14

J. Insect Biotech. Seric., 71, 123–128

cry43Aa popilliae Hime

Appl. Entomol. Zool. (JPN), 32, 583–588

cry44Aa entomocidus INA288

Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72, 5673–5676

69

Part II.

Sustainable Crop Production and Land Use — from global to local —


A photo of the graduation ceremony in 2009 (see p.8).

Section 1. Agricultural and Resource Economics 71

2000 for the first time Japan’s agricultural policy history. The main objectives of the measure were to prevent abandonment of farmlands and to revitalize rural communities in order to maintain and enhance the multi-functionality of agriculture. The measure is revised every 5 years, and the third phase has been operational since April 2010. Fig. 2 shows the ratios of abandoned farmlands by municipality in Hokkaido in 2005. Takayama and Nakatani3) quantitatively evalu-ated the degree to which the measure had slowed the acceleration of farmland abandonment. Over 95% of the targeted HMAs in Hokkaido were cov-ered by the measure. For the first phase (between 2000 and 2004), limited data availability restricted the research focus to Hokkaido’s paddies and up-land fields. All of the agricultural communities in Hokkaido were classified into two groups, those who received payments and those who did not. The former consisted of rural communities in partici-pating municipalities that had paddies and/or up-land fields as well as HMAs. The latter included all of the remaining communities with paddies and upland fields. By using the difference-in-differences estimation method, they found that the measure had a preventive effect, lowering the increase in the rate of abandonment of cultivated lands by about 0.8 percent.

4. Modeling demand for rural recreation It is by now well recognized that agriculture not only plays a food producing role but also provides a comfortable rural atmosphere that may be used for recreation activities (Figs. 3 and 4). Valuing such rural amenities is one of our research themes. The travel cost method (TCM) is a key technique used

in the area. Nakatani and Sato4) is one of our contribu-tions in this field. They modified existing TCM models of recreation demand analysis to meet more realistic sampling strategies. First, they extended the theoretical model to cover a wider range of probability distributions, and then demonstrated how improper treatment of the data can generate divergent outcomes by apply-ing theoretical results to recreation trip data gathered by surveying visitors to an indigenous horse park in Japan. Their empirical application showed that failure to account for sampling methods led to substantial changes in parameter estimates and their standard errors. This failure may result in serious overestimation of the eco-nomic benefit that recreation sites offer to soci-ety.

5. Consumers’ attitudes toward organic milk Subjective perceptions about products af-fect consumer choice. Accordingly, acquiring the underlying demand characteristics that con-sumers find desirable is vital for firms planning future marketing strategies. However, the extent to which product-specific perceptions affect consumer choice is poorly understood. New ag-ricultural standards for organic livestock were introduced in Japan in 2005 and are expected to influence the market significantly. Managi, Yamamoto, Iwamoto and Masuda5) used choice modeling (CM) to explore how consumers evaluate latent demand and the con-ventional attributes (or tangible values) of or-ganic milk. Their results suggest that latent de-mand, along with socioeconomic characteristics and conventional attributes, provides strong in-centives for consumers to switch from buying conventional milk to organic milk. They indicate that latent demand reflecting organic milk’s

Fig. 2. Ratios of abandoned farmlands in Hok-kaido, 2005. Source: Authors’ calculation from the 2005 Census of Agriculture and Forestry. Note: Northern Territories are not depicted in the figure.

Fig. 3. Rural scenery in Hokkaido: agricul-tural production creates cozy landscapes (upland croping area).

70 Part II. Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and Land, Water and Social Managements

Section 1. Agricultural and Resource Economics

1. Economic Analysis of Agricultureal and Environmental Policy Yasutaka Yamamoto, Professor Tomoaki Nakatani, Assistant Professor (Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Policy)

Keywords: agricultural policy; environmenal policy; agricultural trade; quantitative analysis Introduction Economic analysis of agriculture, trade and the environment is a major discipline in modern agri-cultural economic research. Its topics cover a wide range of agricultural and environmental issues, ranging from policy evaluation and measuring the recreational value of agriculture on one hand, to international trade analysis and nitrate pollution studies on the other. Therefore, our laboratory’s research area, agricultural and environmental policy, includes a variety of subjects. Most of our discus-sions are built upon quantitative analysis. In what follows, we present five research themes from our laboratory, referring to abstracts of representative papers by our members and collabo-rators. The subjects are agricultural trade and the environment, analysis of nitrate pollution in Europe, econometric analysis of agricultural policy, model-ing demand for rural recreation, and consumers’ attitudes toward organic milk. We also list several further research topics.

1. Agricultural trade and the environment Yamamoto, Sawauchi and Masuda1) contributed to the debate over agricultural trade and the envi-ronment by asking “Would a Japan-Korea Free Trade Agreement (JKFTA) increase nitrogen pollu-tion from agriculture?” In order to find some an-swers, they measured the potential impact of nitro-gen pollution from agriculture caused by agricul-tural trade liberalization under the JKFTA using the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model and the OECD Nitrogen Balance Database (Fig. 1). The scenario they model assumes the complete removal of all import tariffs between Japan and Korea, not only in the agricultural sector but in non-agricultural sectors as well. Their results show that the JKFTA is likely to lead to an overall in-crease in the total nitrogen surplus for Japan and Korea, suggesting that a JKFTA would likely in-crease nitrogen pollution from agriculture.

2. Analysis of nitrate pollution in Europe In the European Union during the 1980s, the nitrate debate gained public significance and politi-

cal relevance. The spread of nitrate pollution is responsible for its growing political importance. However, the definitive factor making political action necessary was the enactment of the EC Drinking Water Directive in 1980. This Di-rective introduced a stringent new definition of nitrate pollution. Drinking water that would have previously been deemed “safe” was rede-fined as “polluted”. As a result, nitrate pollution control and regulation became part of northern European countries’ policy agendas in the latter half of the 1980s. Finally, in 1991, member states unanimously adopted the Nitrates Di-rective, aimed at reducing and preventing water pollution caused by nitrate runoff from agricul-tural sources. Izcara Palacios, Demura and Yamamoto2) analyzed the issue of nitrate pollution in Europe, examined nitrate pollution policies, and re-viewed shortcomings in the implementation of the 1991 Nitrates Directive.

3. Econometric analysis of agricultural policy A direct payment measure for hilly and mountainous areas (HMAs) was introduced in

Fig. 1. Summary of the OECD nitrogen bal-ance mechanism. Source: Yamamoto, Sawauchi and Masuda.1) Note: Fertilizer means inorganic ferti-lizer; livestock manure means net livestock manure; other nitrogen inputs include biological nitrogen fixation, atmospheric deposition, and seeds and planting materials.

Section 2. Gene Engineering of Crop and Animal Production 85

Section 2. Gene Engineering of Crop and Animal Production

1. Plant Breeding Yuji Kishima, Professor Itsuro Takamure, Lecturer (Laboratory of Plant Breeding)

Keywords: plant breeding; rice, genetic study; transposon; phenotypic variation; Antirrhinum Introduction The Laboratory of Plant Breeding was founded in 1915. Since then, it has trained a large number of plant breeders and researchers. This laboratory's research aims to contribute to genetic improvement of plants, especially rice. Recent themes in this laboratory are: rice genetics underlying genome dynamism and phenotypic change, and genetic control of transposition of transposons in snap-dragon. Most experimental materials are obtained from artificial mating between plants every sum-mer in the greenhouse (Fig. 1). Molecular tech-niques also have become powerful tools for the analyses in this laboratory described below.

1. Insensitive response to low temperature in rice One of the major problems for rice cultivation in Hokkaido is low summer temperature. Rice is very sensitive to low temperature in summer, when the florets at the boot stage develop pollen in the anthers. Based on the idea that an insensitive re-sponse to low temperature may confer tolerance, this laboratory is studying cold tolerance in rice.

2. Endogenous Rice tungro bacilliform virus in the rice genome A number of segments of endogenous Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV)-like sequence (ERTBV) are in the rice genome. A possible rela-tionship between tungro disease and ERTBV is being investigated, as is the mechanism by which the viruses were inserted into the genome.

3. Genetics of hybrids of rice species Hybrids show high potential abilities superior to the parents’ performances known as heterosis. Different projects are examining phenotypic varia-tion in traits of hybrids between rice species. This laboratory's projects based on rice hybrids are concerned with heterosis, doubled haploids through anther culture, and stress tolerance.

4. Genetic constitution of a rice variety, the Koshihikari population This laboratory collected more than 80 popula-tions of a popular japonica rice variety, Koshihikari, from 15 prefectures in Japan and investigated their genetic variation. In plants, insertion sites of trans-posable elements are often good indicators of ge-netic polymorphisms among different strains in the same species. These materials allow study of the genetic diversity occurring in a single rice variety.

5. Low-temperature-dependent transposition of a transposon in Antirrhinum One strain of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) shows petal variegation when grown at low temper-ature. The variegation is attributable to transposon Tam3, which transposes from a gene associated with petal pigmentation. This laboratory analyzed low-temperature-dependent transposition of Tam3 and found that the mechanisms underlying the transposition are associated with non-epigenetic relationships between host and transposon.1)

Fig. 1. Rice cross works in a greenhouse. The students carried out artificial mating between different rice plants in a greenhouse.


were introduced in 3 marine areas of Hokkaido since 1999. The purpose of this study was to shed light on the actual state of these dispensations in terms of the bag limit, cost burden, and resulting changes in marine utilization in these three areas and considering assignments of this dispensation (Fig. 3). As a result of the analysis, conservation by setting a bag limit was not considered to be effec-tive because of the small amounts caught by an-glers compared with commercial operations. The cost burden for anglers was a small factor deter-mining in private stocking programs by commer-cial fishermen that has being lost its subvention. In terms of changes in the utilization of marine areas, revisions of the rules were only implemented in one marine area and the number of license holders was decreasing. The assignments of these license dispensations are to revise the regulation by appropriately dis-cussing information brought out and to develop this rule as local agreements between fishermen with recreational anglers. The main goal of this dispensation is to become an agreement that stakeholders voluntarily follow the guidelines of regulation without the support of local govern-ment.

4. Restructuring of scallop aquaculture and its management analysis under the structural re-form. Yakumo is a small town located in Oshima peninsula in south part of Hokkaido. Its main in-dustries are dairy farming and fisheries. We (Matsuura et al.) analyzed scallop aquaculture in Yakumo in terms of product quantity, sales, cost (labor, fuel, etc.), depreciation of vessel, vehicle, warehouse and so on. We also categorized scallop farmers into different groups according to their product quantity, costs, whether successor to aq-

uaculture exist or not, and so on (Fig. 4). The re-sults showed that farmers with lower labor costs and such depreciation are in a more stable financial position than the others. Furthermore, We proposed the conglomeration of management entities in or-der to improve poorer ones, and pointed out that such conglomeration would be a method to im-prove poorer businesses, not a goal in itself.

References 1) Miyazawa H. (2011) The stream and logic of aquacul-

ture re-structuring on scallop farming. Japanese Jour-nal of Fisheries Economics, 55, 49–62.

2) Ogushi S and Miyazawa H. (2011) Assignment and actual state of the masu salmon boat fishing license dispensation in Hokkaido. Journal of North Japanese Fisheries Economics, 39, 103–123.

Fig. 3. Masu salmon recreational party boat on Iburi marine area.

Fig. 4. Scallop aquaculture in Yakumo Town.

Section 3. Bio-Resources Production and Sustainable Land-Use 117

2. Sensitivity and connectivity “Sensitivity” and “connectivity” are concepts to consider in designing land use and management systems, and to help minimize human impacts on an existing catchment system. We know that heavy rainfall or large earthquakes can cause significant sediment loss from the land, but how “sensitively” does each slope component/stream reach react to these events? As mentioned above, deforestation increases slope sensitivity to yield more sediment in these events. However, once a slope collapses, little soil may remain on the hill-slope, making the

area stable until such time as new soil develops and accumulates there (Fig. 2). Changes to sensi-tivity in streams can also occur following land use change. An increase in sediment stored in a stream results in more sediment being released from the bed in a flood event, than in the past. Connectivity is a concept which describes how well these geo-morphic units, which may have various temporal and spatial sensitivities, connect to each other, to propagate sediment downstream. Each unit will have its own sediment transport capacity, con-trolled by water discharge and slope (steep or gen-tle), which is considered simultaneously when ap-praising connectivity.

References 1) Kondolf M and Piégay H. (2011) Geomorphology and

Society. The Sage Handbook of Geomorphology, 105–117. Sage Publications, London.

2) International Tropical Timber Organization. (2011) Status of Tropical Forest Management 2011. 418 pp. International Tropical Timber Organization, Yokohama.

Question What kind of human activities can impact the

sensitivity of sediment production on an entire catchment scale?

Column: Green Manure and its Nutrient Availability It is useful for economical sustainable crop production to reduce chemicals and energy for crop managements. For low input cropping sys-tems, some legume cover crops are often used as green manure and companion crops. The current work is focused on understanding of the relation-ship between ecological characteristics of crops and spatio-temporal dynamics of available re-sources, such as nutrients, water and light, due to low-input crop production systems. Some corps, such as wheat, rape, onion, clovers and hairy vetch, are used for the evaluation of crop managements.

Toshiyuki Hirata, Assistant Professor (Agro-Ecosystem Course)

Fig. 2. Recurrence interval of new soil development where slope had collapsed.


7. Human Impact on Erosion and Water Resources — Changing Earth Surface with Agriculture, Forestry and Urbanization — Mio Kasai, Associate Professor Tomomi Marutani, Professor (Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Land Management)

Keywords: forests; land development; soil erosion; sediment transport 1. Human activities and sediment loss Clearing forests for development of pasture, farmland or urban areas or even for forest harvest-ing often results in land degradation1). To under-stand the consequences of these activities, the con-tribution of forests to maintaining the stability of slopes must first be studied. Trees play an im-portant role in maintaining the moisture balance in the soil by sucking water from the ground and re-leasing it into the air. Their roots break up solid soils into finer particles, improving water retention. The roots also provide habitat for underground creatures who create more holes, thereby improv-ing macroporosity of the soil. Those creatures also benefit from nutrients supplied from forest litter, which can help maintain forest ecodiversity. In addition, tree roots can grasp soil particles helping to strengthen the ground. Deforestation can elimi-nate the benefits forests offer. Removal of forests deteriorates the infiltration capacity of soils, trig-gering concentration of surface flow on the ground, eventually leading to loss of soil as well as nutri-ents such as carbon and nitrogen. Slopes that have lost soil strength are more prone to collapse in storm events, occasionally resulting in disastrous landslides (Fig. 1). Nevertheless, an increase in population and rap-id modernization in developing countries make forest clearance almost an everyday occurrence.2) Some developing Asian countries in the Pacific Rim region are particularly vulnerable to soil ero-sion following deforestation. Being close to the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Australian, or Eurasian plates, these countries are located in tectonically active zones. This means that frequent earthquakes disturb the soil structure and produce high ground uplift rates, which promote soil weathering. The monsoon climate and occasional typhoons acceler-ate land degradation from heavy rainfalls. An in-crease in sediment yield from hillslopes is not just a local issue. Once sediment enters a catchment system, it is transported downstream, causing var-ious issues such as increased flood risk, loss of aquatic habitat, and deterioration of water quality. Similarly, high suspended sediment loads lead to low light infiltration and generally poor habitat for fish and invertebrate species. Hence, the propaga-

tion of downstream impacts of land developments should always be considered in their design.

Fig. 2. Soil erosion (top), loss of land soil (center), and disastrous landslides on a hill-slope (bottom) due to deforestation.

129

Keyword Index

actinomycete .................................................................... 16 adsorption ...................................................................... 104 aerial vehicles ................................................................ 108 agricultural marketing ..................................................... 81 agricultural policy ............................................................ 70 agricultural products ...................................................... 110 agricultural robot ............................................................ 106 agricultural technology transfer ...................................... 75 agricultural trade .............................................................. 70 agriculture development .................................................. 75 allergy .............................................................................. 34 α-amylase inhibitor ......................................................... 32 α-glucosidase inhibitor .................................................... 32 anaerobic-bacteria ........................................................... 16 and toxicity ...................................................................... 14 animal ............................................................................ 102 animal health ................................................................. 100 animal production .......................................................... 100 antagonistic rhizobacteria ................................................ 26 antibiotics ......................................................................... 58 anti-oxidation capacity .................................................... 87 Antirrhinum ..................................................................... 85 antiviral innate immunity ................................................ 20 Aphanomyces cohlioides ................................................. 26 Arabidopsis ...................................................................... 90 arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi .......................................... 40 Bacillus thuringiensis ...................................................... 52 bifidobacteria ................................................................... 36 bile acid ............................................................................ 36 bioactive compounds ....................................................... 65 biochemistry .................................................................... 65 biolcontrol agent .............................................................. 98 biorefinery ....................................................................... 62 biosensors ....................................................................... 106 bird ................................................................................. 118 building construction ..................................................... 127 business economics ......................................................... 83 carbohydrate .................................................................... 42 carbon cycle ..................................................................... 10 carbon-dioxide emission ............................................... 127 cell division ..................................................................... 94 cell nucleus ...................................................................... 94 cell wall .......................................................................... 125 cellobiose 2-epimerase .................................................... 46 changing environment ................................................... 121 CO2 balance ................................................................... 120 CO2 flux ......................................................................... 120 cold acclimation .............................................................. 89 common property resources ............................................ 75 cooperative associations .................................................. 78 Corynebacterium glutamicum ......................................... 36 crop production ................................................................ 14 Cucumber mosaic virus ................................................... 90 cutaneous appendages ..................................................... 99 dairy product .................................................................... 99 diabetes ............................................................................ 32 3'-diphosphate .................................................................. 22

disease .............................................................................. 98 dispersion and flocculation ........................................... 104 disturbance ............................................................. 120, 123 disturbed environments ................................................... 40 dormancy ......................................................................... 89 eco-friendliness ............................................................. 110 ecology .......................................................................... 102 eddy covariance technique ............................................ 120 energy metabolism .......................................................... 36 enteroendocrine cells ....................................................... 30 environmenal policy ........................................................ 70 environmental load .......................................................... 10 epicuticular wax ............................................................ 125 epigenetics ....................................................................... 90 epilacotose ....................................................................... 46 epimerization ................................................................... 46 evolution .......................................................................... 96 evolutionary biology ..................................................... 102 farm business development ............................................. 73 farm transfer .................................................................... 73 fiber digestion ................................................................ 100 field robots ..................................................................... 108 fishing management ........................................................ 83 fixed-point observation in East Asian Corridor .............. 78 food .......................................................................... 75, 110 food distribution .............................................................. 81 food microbiology ........................................................... 99 forest ecology ................................................................ 121 forest economics ............................................................ 114 forest governance .......................................................... 114 forest policy ................................................................... 114 forest structure ............................................................... 121 forests ............................................................................. 116 forward chemical genetics .............................................. 58 freezing resistance ........................................................... 89 fruit trees .......................................................................... 87 functional anatomy ........................................................ 125 functional metagenomics ................................................ 56 functional substances....................................................... 87 fusion of chemistry and biology ..................................... 58 gas transport .................................................................. 104 gastrointestinal physiology ............................................. 30 genetic interaction ........................................................... 96 genetic study .................................................................... 85 Glaciibacter ..................................................................... 16 glycosylase ...................................................................... 42 greenhouse gas ................................................................ 10 greening plants .............................................................. 112 guanosine 5'-diphosphate ................................................ 22 gut microbes .................................................................. 100 gut microbiota .................................................................. 34 host recognition ............................................................... 26 implement control .......................................................... 106 insect viruses ................................................................... 52 ionome ............................................................................. 14 Japan landscape ............................................................. 118 jasmonic acid ................................................................... 22


for timber joints has been developed to add ductil-ity to timber construction.

4. Wood as an ECO material Wood use in building houses is recommended for cut down of CO2 emission, because wood de-mands less processing energy than other structural materials, as well as wood is renewable material through silvicultural practice. Actually, CO2 emis-sion in building house of conventional frame con-struction is 24% of that for reinforced concrete construction and 35% of that for light-gauge steel construction according to a life cycle assessment.1) Furthermore, wooden houses are good carbon stock. Half the weight of wood is carbon. Wood use is preferable from the view point of carbon fixing against global warming. We should continue making researches on efficient utilization of wood as an ECO (environment-compatible) material.

Reference 1) Okazaki Y and Okuma M. (1998) Evaluation of wooden

house construction from the standpoint of carbon stock and CO2 emission. Wood Industry, 53, 161–165 (in Japanese).

Fig. 4. Typical stress-strain curves for defect-free wood loaded with the tension parallel to the grain (T), compression parallel to the grain (C), and compression perpendicular to the grain (E).

Fig. 3. Nuki-kusabi (through-tenon and wedge) joint in traditional frame construction.

131

List of Authors *: A member of the editorial committee

AKINO, Seishi II-2-7 (Laboratory of Plant Pathology) ARAKAWA, Keita II-2-3 (Laboratory of Woody Plant Biology) ARAKI, Hajime Column p.111 (Agro-Ecosystem Course, Farm University) ASANO, Kozo I-3 (Laboratory of Applied Microbiology) ASANO, Shin-ichiro I-15 (Laboratory of Applied Molecular Entomology) BANDO, Hisanori I-15 (Laboratory of Applied Molecular Entomology) EZAWA, Tatsuhiro I-11 (Laboratory of Rhizosphere Control) FUKIYA, Satoru I-10 (Laboratory of Microbial Physiology) HARA, Hiroshi I-7 (Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry) HASEGAWA, Eisuke II-2-10 (Laboratory of Animal Ecology) HASHIDOKO, Yasuyuki* I-6 (Laboratory of Molecular & Ecological Chemistry) HASHIMOTO, Makoto I-19 (Laboratory of Molecular & Ecological Chemistry) HATANO, Ryusuke* I-1 (Laboratory of Soil Science) HIGASHIYAMA, Kan II-1-2 (Laboratory of Farm Business Management) HIRANO, Takashi II-3-9 (Laboratory of Eco-Informatics) HIRATA, Toshiyuki Column p.117 (Agro-Ecosystem Course, Farm University) HOSHINO, Yoichiro Column p.103 (Agro-Ecosystem Course, Farm University) IIZAWA, Riichiro II-1-5 (Laboratory of Food and Agricultural Marketing) INUKAI, Tsuyoshi II-2-4 (Laboratory of Cell Biology and Manipulation) ISHIGURO, Munehide II-3-1 (Laboratory of Soil Conservation) KAKIZAWA, Hiroaki II-3-6 (Laboratory of Forest Policy) KAMAGATA, Yoichi I-16 (Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbiology) KANAZAWA, Akira II-2-4 (Laboratory of Cell Biology and Manipulation) KASAI, Mio II-3-7 (Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Land Management)KATAOKA, Takashi II-3-2 (Laboratory of Biomass Control Systems Engineering) KAWABATA, Jun I-8 (Laboratory of Food Biochemistry) KAWAMURA, Shuso II-3-4 (Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Process Engineering) KIMURA, Atsuo I-12 (Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology) KIMURA, Toshinori II-3-4 (Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Process Engineering) KISHIMA, Yuji II-2-1 (Laboratory of Plant Breeding) KOBAYASHI, Kuniuiki II-1-4 (Laboratory of Agricultural Cooperative) KOBAYASHI, Yasuo* II-2-9 (Laboratory of Animal Nutrition & Gut Microbiology) KOIKE, Satoshi II-2-9 (Laboratory of Animal Nutrition & Gut Microbiology) KOIKE, Takayoshi* II-3-10 (Laboratory of Silviculture & Forest Ecology) KOIZUMI, Akio II-3-13 (Laboratory of Timber Engineering) KONDO, Takumi II-1-3 (Laboratory of Agricultural Development Economics) KONDO, Norio II-2-7 (Laboratory of Plant Pathology) KONDO, Tetsuya II-3-5 (Laboratory of Ornamental Plants and Landscape Architecture) KUBO, Tomohiko II-2-6 (Laboratory of Genetic Engineering) KUMURA, Haruto II-2-8 (Laboratory of Dairy Food Science) MARUTANI, Tomomi II-3-7 (Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Land Management)MASUDA, Kiyoshi II-2-5 (Laboratory of Plant Functional Biology) MASUTA, Chikara* II-2-4 (Laboratory of Cell Biology and Manipulation) MATSUI, Hirokazu Message from Dean, I-13 (Laboratory of Biochemistry) MATSUURA, Hideyuki I-5 (Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry) MIYAZAWA, Haruhiko II-1-6 (Laboratory of Economics and Business Administration for Fisheries)MORITA, Naoki Column p.55 (Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbi-ology) NAITO, Satoshi I-14 (Laboratory of Molecular Biology) NAKAHARA, Kenji I-4 (Laboratory of Pathogen-Plant Interactions)

130 Keyword Index

lactic acid bacteria ........................................................... 36 land development .......................................................... 116 landscape planning ........................................................ 112 lignin utilization ............................................................... 62 macro biology ................................................................ 102 market of agriculture-rerated industries .......................... 81 matrix ............................................................................. 118 methane emission .......................................................... 100 methionine biosynthesis .................................................. 48 micro aggregates ............................................................ 104 microbial ecology ............................................................ 40 microscopy .................................................................... 125 mineral ............................................................................. 48 mineral nutrition .............................................................. 14 mitochondria .................................................................... 96 mucosal immune cells ..................................................... 30 mycorrhiza ..................................................................... 123 N2O emitting bacteria ...................................................... 26 natural forest .................................................................. 118 nature management ....................................................... 112 nitrogen cycle .................................................................. 10 novel cellulosic material .................................................. 62 nuclear envelope .............................................................. 94 nuclear lamina ................................................................. 94 nuclear pore complex ...................................................... 94 nutrient uptake ............................................................... 123 obesity .............................................................................. 34 open mitosis ..................................................................... 94 organic chemistry ............................................................ 65 perennial woody plants ................................................... 89 permeability ................................................................... 104 petunia ............................................................................. 90 phenotypic variation ........................................................ 85 photosynthesis ............................................................... 121 pit ................................................................................... 125 plant breeding .................................................................. 85 plant evolution ................................................................. 22 plant physiology .............................................................. 40 plant reproduction ............................................................ 96 polyphenol ....................................................................... 32 population ...................................................................... 102 postharvest technology .................................................. 110 poverty ............................................................................. 75 prebiotic ........................................................................... 46 prebiotics ......................................................................... 34 precision agriculture ....................................................... 106 probiotics ......................................................................... 34 problem soils ................................................................... 14 protein expression platform ............................................. 56 protein structure ............................................................... 42 quality ............................................................................ 110 quantitative analysis ........................................................ 70 reaction mechanism ......................................................... 42 recessive resistance .......................................................... 20 recreation management ................................................. 114 recreational fishing .......................................................... 83 reforestation ................................................................... 123 remote-sensing ............................................................... 108 resistant cultivar ............................................................... 98 restructure of agriculture ................................................. 73 reverse chemical genetics ................................................ 58 rhizosphere .............................................................. 14, 123

Rhodococcus erythropolis ............................................... 56 ribosome .......................................................................... 48 rice ................................................................................... 85 RNA silencing ........................................................... 20, 90 Ruminococcus .................................................................. 16 rural development .......................................................... 114 rural network approach ................................................... 78 safety .............................................................................. 110 satellite ........................................................................... 108 scallop farming ................................................................ 83 sediment transport ......................................................... 116 seed germination ........................................................... 112 seeding systems .............................................................. 106 sexual polymorphism ...................................................... 96 signal molecule ................................................................ 22 silkworm .......................................................................... 52 snag, stand ..................................................................... 118 soil erosion ..................................................................... 116 soilborne plant ................................................................. 98 solute transport .............................................................. 104 soybean ............................................................................ 90 stress tolerance ................................................................ 40 structural material .......................................................... 127 structure-activity relationships ........................................ 65 sustainability .................................................................. 121 tillage systems ................................................................ 106 Tomitella .......................................................................... 16 translation initiation factor .............................................. 20 transporter ........................................................................ 48 transposon ........................................................................ 85 tropical plants .................................................................. 32 unculturable bacteria ....................................................... 56 understory ...................................................................... 118 upstream open reading frame .......................................... 48 urban and national park ................................................. 112 vegetables ........................................................................ 87 vehicles .......................................................................... 108 water conduction ........................................................... 125 water pollution ................................................................. 10 wild herbs ........................................................................ 87 wood .............................................................................. 127 wood anatomy ............................................................... 125 woody biomass ................................................................ 62 wounding stress ............................................................... 22

133

Postface The English program has contributed not only to fostering foreign agricultural researchers but also has given ample opportunities for domestic (Japanese) students to study with foreign students. This is a very important aspect in today’s higher education system in Japan. The current globaliza-tion of society requires domestic students to be more adaptable to international society. For exam-ple, Japanese global companies seek international-ly competitive university graduates and they are not necessarily Japanese. Because of social demands, Hokkaido Univer-sity has been encouraging graduate schools and faculty to increase the number of foreign students

to promote internationalization of educational pro-grams. The Special Postgraduate Program in Bio-systems Sustainability is a pioneering and successful program and continues to contribute significantly to internationalization. In order for all students to understand what globalization means, I hope all agricultural fields will be involved in the program. The program is expected to keep playing a key role in the educa-tional program of the Graduate School of Agricul-ture.

Executive and Vice President Professor Dr. Ichiro Uyeda

Acknowledgments First of all, we would like to express our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for providing us with this framework - namely, the Special Postgraduate Pro-grams in English - for the past fifteen years, from its first to its third phase. Thanks are especially due to Mr. Hitoshi Nara, Deputy Director-General of the Minis-try’s Higher Education Bureau, as well as to those who devoted themselves to making these programs run in an effective manner. We are grateful to Hokkaido University’s Division of International Services (formerly the International Student Center), to its Graduate School of Agricul-ture’s Student Affairs, section, and also to the Secre-tariat of this program, Ms. Kazuko Harada, who helped us welcome foreign students smoothly to Hokkaido University and then to each laboratory. Dr. Fusao Tomita, Emeritus Professor (formerly Vice President of Hokkaido University), proposed the program’s first phase, the Special Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Chemistry, and served as program head for six years. We very much appreciate his perspective. Thanks are also due to the former deans of our insti-tute, Prof. Dr. Akira Ogoshi, Prof. Dr. Takaaki Ohtahara, Prof. Dr. Masaaki Suwa, Prof. Dr. Akihito Hattori, Prof. Dr. Ichiro Uyeda, and the present dean, Prof. Dr. Hirokazu Matsui for encouraging us to run these pro-grams as the innovative systems in our institute. The sustainability of our programs for the past fif-teen years can undoubtedly be attributed not only to the enthusiasm for education demonstrated by profes-sors and staff members but also to the enthusiasm dis-played by students in their coursework. The time period allowed for manuscript preparation was extremely short (and came during Decemeber and

January, the busiest time of the academic year.) In spite of this, all authors made important contributions, and we are most grateful for their efforts. Financial support from the Sapporo Alumni Asso-ciation was highly appreciated, for it enabled this memorable book to be published. Last but not least, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to two professors of our institute: Dr. Yasuyuki Hashidoko (Laboratory of Molecular and Ecological Chemistry) and Dr. Takayoshi Koike (Laboratory of Forest Ecophysiology). Dr. Hashidoko carried out all kinds of practical work from the soliciting of the vari-ous manuscripts to their final editing. It was Dr. Koike who suggested launching this project in order to com-memorate the the Special Program’s fifteen-year mark. These acknowledgments would not be complete with-out drawing attention to the strong willpower and ded-ication of the two individuals. Finally, all of the editorial members would like to thank Mr. Hisashi Miyauchi, president of Kaiseisha Press (Otsu, Shiga, Japan), for kindly agreeing to take on our project. Dr. Derek Goto (Creative Research Institution, Hokkaido University) whose assistance in checking the manuscript is highly appreciated. We also wish to acknowledge the efforts of Mr. Shintaro Hara, a graduate student in the Laboratory of Molecular and Ecological Chemistry who spent a great deal of time formatting the book.

March 10, 2012

Professor Dr. Atsushi Yokota Head of the Special Postgraduate Program in

Bio-systems Sustainability Research Faculty of Agriculture,

Hokkaido University

132 List of Authors

NAKATANI, Tomoaki II-1-1 (Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Policy) NOGUCHI, Noboru* II-3-3 (Laboratory of Vehicle Robotics) ONOUCHI, Hitoshi I-14 (Laboratory of Molecular Biology) OSAKI, Mitsuru I-2 (Laboratory of Plant Nutrition) OSANAMI, Fumio II-1-3 (Laboratory of Agricultural Development Economics) PARK, Hong II-1-4 (Laboratory of Agricultural Cooperative) SABURI, Wataru I-13 (Laboratory of Biochemistry) SAKASHITA, Akihiko II-1-4 (Laboratory of Agricultural Cooperative) SAKAZUME, Hiroshi II-1-5 (Laboratory of Food and Agricultural Marketing) SANO, Yuzou II-3-12 (Laboratory of Woody Plant Biology) SHIGA, Eiichi II-1-2 (Laboratory of Farm Business Management) SHOJI, Yasushi II-3-6 (Laboratory of Forest Policy) SONE, Teruo I-3, Column p.19 (Laboratory of Applied Microbiology) SONOYAMA, Kei I-9 (Laboratory of Food Biochemistry) SUZUKI, Takashi II-2-2 (Laboratory of Horticulture Science) TAKAHASHI, Kosaku I-5 (Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry) TAKAMURE, Itsuro II-2-1 (Laboratory of Plant Breeding) TAKANO, Junpei I-14 (Laboratory of Molecular Biology) TAMAI, Yutaka II-3-11, Column p.93, 97 (Laboratory of Forest Resource Biology) TAMURA, Tomohiro I-16 (Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbiology) TANAKA, Michiko I-3 (Laboratory of Applied Microbiology) UBUKATA, Makoto I-17 (Laboratory of Wood Chemistry & Chemical Biology) URAKI, Yasumitsu I-18 (Laboratory of Forest Chemistry) UYEDA, Ichiro Postface (Laboratory of Pathogen-Plant Interactions) WADA, Masaru I-10 (Laboratory of Microbial Physiology) YAMADA, Toshihiko Column p.86 (Agro-Ecosystem Course, Farm University) YAMAMOTO, Yasutaka* II-1-1 (Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Policy) YAMAURA, Yuichi II-3-8 (Laboratory of Forest Ecosystem Management) YANAGIMUA, Shunsuke II-1-2 (Laboratory of Farm Business Management) YOKOTA, Atsushi* I-10 (Laboratory of Microbial Physiology) YUMOTO, Isao Column p.35 (Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbiology)

135

学院長からのメッセージ (Message from Dean) 北大農学部・農学院で学ぶ学生諸君

札幌農学校から北大へ

札幌農学校は日本初の学士授与教育機関であり、北

海道大学の母体である。札幌農学校は、1872 年に設置

された東京・増上寺の開拓使 (the Development Com-mission）仮学校(provisional school)を基礎に、北海道の

開拓を担うために 1876 年に設置された。観光名所でも

ある札幌市時計台は、この札幌農学校の演武場として

1878 年に建てられた。1907 年に東北帝国大学農科大学、

1918 年に北海道帝国大学として、特に農学部は東アジ

アの開拓に寄与した。そして 1947 年に法文学部を設置

して北海道大学へと発展した。開校初期にはアメリカ出身の教師が多かったことも

あり、イギリス・アメリカ風の大規模農業経営・畑作

に重点をおく農学が講義された。しかし、第 1 期生の

佐藤昌介が米国のジョンズ・ホプキンス大学（Hopkins Johns University）でイリー（R. T. Eley：保護貿易論者、

ドイツ農学を研究した）のもとで学んだことから、ドイ

ツ農学や歴史学派経済学の影響を受け、1890 年代半か

ら中小農経営と米作に重点をおく農学へ展開した。必然

的に、それは大地を切り拓き、人間のための資源生産シ

ステムへと作り変える技術（land management）の開発へ

と帰結していった。すなわち、自然の摂理や地形･気象

を理解し、これをうまく利用する学風、いうなれば実学

的創造へ続く伝統の端緒である。クラーク精神

初期の札幌農学校は「日本の近代精神の源流を築い

た」とされる。それは人口僅か 2000 人足らずの札幌に

おいて、「人間を造るというリベラルな教育を行った。」

という新渡戸稲造門下の矢内原忠雄（戦後二代目の東

大総長）の言葉に裏付けられる。この背景には、僅か

8 ヶ月の滞在ではあったが、クラーク博士の足跡があ

る。1915 年のサンフランシスコ万博で紹介された北大

略史には、以下の言葉が綴られている。 “Boys, be ambitious!” It has become proverbial in the school. “Boys, be ambitious!” Be ambitious not for money or for selfish aggrandizement, nor for that evanescent thing which men call fame. Be ambitious for knowledge, for righteousnness, and for the uplift of your people. Be ambi-tious for the attainment of all that a man ought to be. This was the message of Professor William Smith Clark (from Paul Rouland). さらに、札幌農学校の校則はただ１つ、Be gentle-man！であった。自らの行動には、責任が伴うことを

わきまえることが求められている。これは後にクラー

ク精神（Clark Spirit）として、「自由・平等・博愛の精

神」を求め、「弱者の側に立つ視点」、そして「正義を

主張する不屈の精神」を源流とし、今に伝わる。我が

学舎の精神は、ここにある。我々の愛唱する寮歌「都

ぞ弥生」の一節、「人の世の清き国ぞとあこがれぬ (Hito no Yo no Kiyoki Kuni zo to Akogare nu)」は、クラ

ーク精神の理想を謳っているという。

農学部・農学研究院の哲学

クラーク博士ゆかりの当時の教員達の言葉に、北大

農学部・農学院で学ぶ基礎がある。すなわち、「学校の

講義や書物は過去の発明に関する知識に過ぎない。学

者であろうとする者は、疑問をおこし、解決の道を研

究し、発明進歩することを基本にすべし。講義や書物

を完全と信じてはいけない。」（Thomas Antisell）「思考なき知識はそれ以上どこへも行かない。思想力

の伴った知識は尽きることのない資源たり得る。」（＝

理論の理解とその応用実践の能力を養う教育が必要で

ある）。そして「自然に学べ」という一言で看破してい

るが、山地から河川を通じて平野へと至る流域システ

ムの確立を目指した。（William Wheeler）「新たに観察された事象が、どのような原因によるも

のか、知識と理論から考察し、因果関係を明らかにす

る能力のあるものは、単に博識であるものより、遙か

に得がたく貴重な人材である。」（William Penn Brooks）さらに、2 期生、新渡戸稲造は農業経済を学び、平和

136 学院長からのメッセージ (Message from Dean)

主義を貫き、「With malice toward none, with charity for all」と記した。さらに、“Bushido: The Soul of Japan” を著して日本の精神性とアイデンティティーを紹介した。

英語を学ぶ動機として「I wish to be a bridge across the Pacific.」を述べ、実践した。同じく 2 期生の内村鑑三

は、その著書「後世への最大の遺物」のなかで、「…何

人にも遺すことのできる本当の最大の遺物とは、何で

あるか。それは勇ましい高尚 (dignity) なる生涯であ

る。」と結んでいる。我々の目指すもの

ここで、我々が抱く四つの言葉を想い起こしてもら

いたい。“フロンティア精神”、“国際性の涵養”、“全人

教育”、“実学の重視”である。本学は、130 数年の歴

史のなかで、これらの言葉を教育研究の理念として掲

げてきた。今、私達は地球規模の大きな問題、すなわち「食糧

問題」「環境問題」「エネルギー問題」などに直面して

いる。一人ひとりが地球市民として正しく行動せねば

ならない。農学は農林水産の持続的一次生産の科学を

行うことを主目的に発展してきた。さらに今日では環

境や生命科学へも、その領域が広がっている。折しも

2011 年には世界人口は 70 億を超えた。一方で、世界

の農耕面積は 14 億 ha、食糧の生産量は 22 億トンと、

この 40 年間ではほとんど増えていない。私自身は、2004 年以来、北海道の遺伝子組換え条例

策定に座長として関わっており、食の安全・安心に人

一倍関心がある。しかし、その基本は一次生産を基礎

にした資源生産システムと人類生存基盤の安定的維持

と向上である。そして、食料が満ち足りてこその、食

の安全・安心である。当面、取り組むべき課題を個別に見ると、農山村か

ら沿岸域の生産環境の整備と調和のとれた開発、省力

化の推進、生産環境の激変にあっても生育できる新品

種の開発と利用法の確立、生物の病害虫からの防御法

の開発、動植物の機能性成分の作出、微生物のさらな

る利用、バイオマスの利活用、有機農業の科学的分析

とその促進、などが挙げられる。北海道には豊かな自

然がまだ残されており、この大地において壮大な夢を

持ちつつ、地に足の付いた正当な研究を推進しながら、

我々の力で人類に大きな貢献をしよう。我々の使命

北海道大学農学部と北海道大学大学院農学院の使命

は、北海道の農林水産業だけに目を向けるものではな

い。北海道は北緯 42～45 度に位置するが、この緯度周

辺は世界の多くの先進国の首都が位置する場所である。

そこは古くから人間活動が自然を改変してきた場所で

もある。従って、我々は必然的に世界の農学研究分野

と時空を共有している。然るに、世界全体が否応にも

運命共同体と共存していかねばならない現在において

こそ、先達が東アジアや、寒冷地に限らず世界の途上

国で農業技術の発達と環境保全に尽力し、貢献を成し

てきたことを私達は認識すべきである。視野を海外に

向けること、これは、研究重点化大学院大学としての

責務でもある。

私達の研究は、当然、好奇心によって突き進む。し

かし、我々農学を学ぶ者の目的は、単に好奇心だけで

はなく、人類の福祉を追求し、便利で楽しく幸せな人

生を皆が送ることのできる世界を創ることにある。そ

のためには、北海道の豊かな自然から学び、それを活

かすことである。大気・水資源、食料資源、木質資源

と人間の生存基盤を確固たるものとし、持続的な循環

社会の形成の根本問題を私達が解決するのである。目

前の事柄に一喜一憂するのではなく、5 年先、10 年先

の自分を描いて、それに向かうのである。北海道大学農学部・農学院・農学研究院を中核とし

て、世界の皆さんと地球市民の将来のためにも、大き

な問題を解決するために、共に取り組もう。

松井博和

北海道大学大学院農学院院長

参考文献

蝦名賢造 (2007) 北海道大学の父佐藤昌介伝：東京 :

佐藤昌介刊行会 : 西田書店 pp. 221.

藤田正一 (2011) 新渡戸稲造を育んだ札幌農学校の教

育精神、札幌同窓会誌 20 号，pp. 5-41.

黒松内町 (1993) 北のヤシの木: 歌才ブナ林と新島善

直の物語.

松井博和 (2011) 22 世紀に向けて、札幌同窓会誌 20

号，pp. 1-4.

田嶋謙三（2007）農学部に「クラーク講座」を設置す

る提案、札幌同窓会誌 18 号，pp. 71-74.

内村鑑三 (1946) 注・解説：鈴木範久 (2011)、後世

への最大遺物・デンマルク国の話、岩波文庫

伝統の灯火（農学部本館玄関ホールのシャンデリア）

海青社Kaiseisha Press

〒520－0112 大津市日吉台 2－16－4 Tel.（077）577－2677　Fax.（077）577－2688 http://www.kaiseisha-press.ne.jp　郵便振替　01090－1－17991

発行日 2012 年 6 月 30 日　初版第１刷定　　価カバーに表示してあります編　　者北海道大学大学院農学研究院発　行　者宮　内　　　久

● Copyright © 2012 Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University● ISBN978－4－86099－283－5 C3061

● 落丁乱丁はお取り替えいたします。　● Printed in Japan　

Agricultural Sciences for Human SustainabilityMeeting the challenges of food safety and stable food production

北海道大学大学院農学研究院編集委員会(＊は編集委員長)

　橋床泰之 HASHIDOKO Yasuyuki (応用生命科学部門教授) *　波多野隆介 HATANO Ryusuke (環境資源学部門教授)　小林泰男 KOBAYASHI Yasuo (生物資源生産学部門教授)　小池孝良 KOIKE Takayoshi (環境資源学部門教授)　増田　税 MASUTA Chikara (応用生命科学部門教授)　野口　伸 NOGUCHI Noboru (生物資源生産学部門教授)　山本康貴 YAMAMOTO Yasutaka (生物資源生産学部門教授)　横田　篤 YOKOTA Atsushi (応用生命科学部門教授)

本書のコピー、スキャン、デジタル化等の無断複製は著作権法上での例外を除き禁じられています。本書を代行業者等の第三者に依頼してスキャンやデジタル化することはたとえ個人や家庭内の利用でも著作権法違反です。

136 学院長からのメッセージ (Message from Dean)

主義を貫き、「With malice toward none, with charity for all」と記した。さらに、“Bushido: The Soul of Japan” を著して日本の精神性とアイデンティティーを紹介した。

英語を学ぶ動機として「I wish to be a bridge across the Pacific.」を述べ、実践した。同じく 2 期生の内村鑑三

は、その著書「後世への最大の遺物」のなかで、「…何

人にも遺すことのできる本当の最大の遺物とは、何で

あるか。それは勇ましい高尚 (dignity) なる生涯であ

る。」と結んでいる。我々の目指すもの

ここで、我々が抱く四つの言葉を想い起こしてもら

いたい。“フロンティア精神”、“国際性の涵養”、“全人

教育”、“実学の重視”である。本学は、130 数年の歴

史のなかで、これらの言葉を教育研究の理念として掲

げてきた。今、私達は地球規模の大きな問題、すなわち「食糧

問題」「環境問題」「エネルギー問題」などに直面して

いる。一人ひとりが地球市民として正しく行動せねば

ならない。農学は農林水産の持続的一次生産の科学を

行うことを主目的に発展してきた。さらに今日では環

境や生命科学へも、その領域が広がっている。折しも

2011 年には世界人口は 70 億を超えた。一方で、世界

の農耕面積は 14 億 ha、食糧の生産量は 22 億トンと、

この 40 年間ではほとんど増えていない。私自身は、2004 年以来、北海道の遺伝子組換え条例

策定に座長として関わっており、食の安全・安心に人

一倍関心がある。しかし、その基本は一次生産を基礎

にした資源生産システムと人類生存基盤の安定的維持

と向上である。そして、食料が満ち足りてこその、食

の安全・安心である。当面、取り組むべき課題を個別に見ると、農山村か

ら沿岸域の生産環境の整備と調和のとれた開発、省力

化の推進、生産環境の激変にあっても生育できる新品

種の開発と利用法の確立、生物の病害虫からの防御法

の開発、動植物の機能性成分の作出、微生物のさらな

る利用、バイオマスの利活用、有機農業の科学的分析

とその促進、などが挙げられる。北海道には豊かな自

然がまだ残されており、この大地において壮大な夢を

持ちつつ、地に足の付いた正当な研究を推進しながら、

我々の力で人類に大きな貢献をしよう。我々の使命

北海道大学農学部と北海道大学大学院農学院の使命

は、北海道の農林水産業だけに目を向けるものではな

い。北海道は北緯 42～45 度に位置するが、この緯度周

辺は世界の多くの先進国の首都が位置する場所である。

そこは古くから人間活動が自然を改変してきた場所で

もある。従って、我々は必然的に世界の農学研究分野

と時空を共有している。然るに、世界全体が否応にも

運命共同体と共存していかねばならない現在において

こそ、先達が東アジアや、寒冷地に限らず世界の途上

国で農業技術の発達と環境保全に尽力し、貢献を成し

てきたことを私達は認識すべきである。視野を海外に

向けること、これは、研究重点化大学院大学としての

責務でもある。

私達の研究は、当然、好奇心によって突き進む。し

かし、我々農学を学ぶ者の目的は、単に好奇心だけで

はなく、人類の福祉を追求し、便利で楽しく幸せな人

生を皆が送ることのできる世界を創ることにある。そ

のためには、北海道の豊かな自然から学び、それを活

かすことである。大気・水資源、食料資源、木質資源

と人間の生存基盤を確固たるものとし、持続的な循環

社会の形成の根本問題を私達が解決するのである。目

前の事柄に一喜一憂するのではなく、5 年先、10 年先

の自分を描いて、それに向かうのである。北海道大学農学部・農学院・農学研究院を中核とし

て、世界の皆さんと地球市民の将来のためにも、大き

な問題を解決するために、共に取り組もう。

松井博和

北海道大学大学院農学院院長

参考文献

蝦名賢造 (2007) 北海道大学の父佐藤昌介伝：東京 :

佐藤昌介刊行会 : 西田書店 pp. 221.

藤田正一 (2011) 新渡戸稲造を育んだ札幌農学校の教

育精神、札幌同窓会誌 20 号，pp. 5-41.

黒松内町 (1993) 北のヤシの木: 歌才ブナ林と新島善

直の物語.

松井博和 (2011) 22 世紀に向けて、札幌同窓会誌 20

号，pp. 1-4.

田嶋謙三（2007）農学部に「クラーク講座」を設置す

る提案、札幌同窓会誌 18 号，pp. 71-74.

内村鑑三 (1946) 注・解説：鈴木範久 (2011)、後世

への最大遺物・デンマルク国の話、岩波文庫

伝統の灯火（農学部本館玄関ホールのシャンデリア）

ISBN978-4-86099-968-1（PDF）

agricultural sciences - kaiseisha-press.ne.jp

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