Message

  Due to various climate changes on a global scale, crop production has decreased, and it is extremely difficult to support the increasing population of the world. For this reason, searching for genetic resources with environmental stress tolerance of crops is very important. Furthermore, the creation of new crop species for various environmental stresses by elucidating the mechanism of tolerance becomes more efficient. We are identifying genetic resources that are resistant to environmental stress not only from cultivated plant species but also from wild species. 

  Since the 11 March 2011 nuclear accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, many areas in Fukushima Prefecture remain extremely contaminated by long-lived radiocesium, especially ¹³⁷Cs. Hirosaki University has launched a supporting project for restoration of Namie town in Fukushima Prefecture since September 29, 2011. Within the project, we are carrying out restoration program of contaminated agricultural land using phytoextraction method (¹³⁷Cs absorption by plant). Now, we have established the decontamination method with the highest decontamination effect that also incorporates physical and chemical methods to restore contaminated agricultural land. We are looking for graduate students who are interested in ¹³⁷Cs decontamination of contaminated agricultural land and/or crop production under environmental stress conditions.

Research Theme

Physiological studies on the abiotic stresses in crops 

• Studies on morphological and physiological mechanism of rice species including NERICA on the environmental stress conditions particularly drought, salt, and acid soil.
• Establishing simple screening method for identifying tolerant rice varieties to the abiotic stresses conditions.
• Search elite plant species with excellent above ground biomass production and develop the best cultivation management method for forage crop under Aomori environmental conditions.

Decontamination of radionuclides using phytoremediation

• Identify promising plant species for radiocesium decontamination.
• Develop the best practice for increasing radiocesium removal rates from radiocesium contaminated soil using a promising plant species in Fukushima.

Education & Appointments

See “Information of Academic Research Staff, Hirosaki University”

Publications

• Kang DJ, Ishii Y, Tazoe H, Isobe K, Higo M, Hosoda M, Yamada M, Tokonami S. 2017. Remediation of radiocesium-137 affected soil using napiergrass under different planting density and cutting frequency regimes. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 10.1007/s11270-017-3444-z.　228:268.
• Kang DJ, Tazoe H, Yamada M, Ishii Y. 2014. Differences in remediation effect of ¹³⁷Cs in napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) under different land-use soil and cutting frequency conditions. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. DOI:10.1007/s11270-014-2022-x. 225: 2022.
• Kang DJ, Endo A, Seo YJ. 2013. Effects of soil scraping on the reclamation of tsunami-damaged paddy soil. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology. 16: 219-223.
• Ishii Y, Hamano K, Kang DJ, Kannika R, Idota S, Fukuyama K, Nishiwaki A. 2013. C₄-napiergrass cultivation for cadmium phytoremediation activity and organic livestock farming in Kyushu, Japan. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 3: 321-330.
• Kang DJ, Seo YJ, Saito T, Suzuki H, Ishii Y. 2012. Uptake and translocation of cesium-133 in napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) under hydroponic conditions. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 82: 122-126. 
• Kang DJ, Futakuchi K, Seo YJ, Vijarnsorn P, Ishii R. 2012. Evaluation of Al-tolerance on upland and lowland types of NERICA lines under hydroponic conditions. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology. 15: 25-31.