NIAES Annual Report 2007

ISSN 1342-6648 NIAES Annual Report NIAES Annual NIAES

Annual Report 2007 2007

Conserve the environment by listening to wind, observing soil National Institutefor Agro-Environmental Sciences and thinking of our future

National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences Japan 2007 2006 2007

Editorial Board Chairman: Yohei Sato President

Vice Chairman: Masako Ueji Vice President Kiyotaka Miyashita Principal Research Director

Editorial Committee: Masanori Saito Principal Research Coordinator Yasuhiro Yogo Director, Organochemicals Division Toshihiro Kadosawa Head, Public Relations and Information Office Koji Yasuda Head, Research Planning Office Kenji Miyamoto Head, Accounting Office Shinichi Ono Director, Soil Environment Division Tetsuhisa Miwa Director, Ecosystem Informatics Division Naomi Fukuda Public Relations and Information Office Masayoshi Miyamae Public Relations and Information Office Sachiko Niizeki Public Relations and Information Office Izumi Maekawa Public Relations and Information Office Contents

Message from the President ·················································································· 2

Basic Philosophy, Code of Conduct, and Environmental Charter ········ 3

History of NIAES······································································································· 4

Highlights in 2006······································································································ 5

Research Topics ················································································································· 5 Major Symposia and Seminars ································································································ 24 Research Collaborations········································································································ 30 Visitors···························································································································· 32 Advisory Council 2006········································································································· 33 Academic Prizes and Awards ·································································································· 34

New Research Departments and Centers ························································ 36

Research Overview in 2006 ··················································································· 37

Research Organization·········································································································· 37 Summary of NIAES Research Projects······················································································· 38 Special Research Projects ······································································································ 45

Invitations, Training and Information Events ··············································· 50

Symposia and Workshops ······································································································ 50 Foreign Visitors·················································································································· 53 Overseas Research and Meetings ····························································································· 57

Appendix ······················································································································· 60

Publications ······················································································································ 60 Advisory Council················································································································ 72 Budget, Staff Numbers and Library Holdings ··············································································· 73 NIAES Campus Map (Site Layout and Main Research Equipment） ················································· 75 Internet Web Site of NIAES ··································································································· 77 Meteorological Information···································································································· 78

1 Message from the President

Multi-disciplinary approaches to solving agro-environmental problems

Science itself has two different categories. One is science that contributes deeper knowledge and new findings to the development of a discipline. This is called “science for the sake of science” and corresponds to “mode I” of the Mode Theory proposed by Gibbons et al in the book of “New Production of Knowledge: The Dy- namics of Science and Research in Contemporary Socie- ties”. The other is science that serves society by solving societal problems; this is called “science for society” and corresponds to “mode II” of the Mode Theory. The development of these two sciences must be promoted to prevent the global crisis that is predicted to occur in the Dr. Yohei SATO 21st Century. Our research is intended to develop these sciences. We hope to be able to contribute our achievements in A new 5-year Plan with a target year of 2010 was science and technology to society by deepening under- formulated and launched in FY 2006. The achievements standing of the disciplines related to agro-environmental of the Plan in FY 2006 are presented in this annual re- sciences and by generating knowledge by a port. multi-disciplinary approach to solve agro-environmental problems. As is well known, we are pursuing a mission that is In the context mentioned above, many products from clearly described in legislation: to conduct fundamental FY 2006 are presented in this annual report, and for your technological research and other activities pertaining to information we also present details of the structure of our the environments of organisms used in agricultural pro- new research and administrative organization. We will be duction, with the aim of helping to upgrade technologies greatly delighted if the reports of our work in FY 2006 for the conservation and improvement of those environ- inspire the further development of research on the ments. agro-environment and are used to solve agro-environmental To achieve the goals of this mission, the new 5-year problems. A list of research papers published by NIAES Plan was formulated with a special focus on “risk as- staff in FY 2006 is included at the end of the report. sessment and risk management” as applied to the Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions agro-environment. The Plan has the following three re- about any aspect of agro-environmental research. search objectives, which emphasize basic research meant to ensure the safety of agricultural production environ- Yohei SATO, Dr Agr ments: President 1) assessment and management of agro-environmental National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences risks 2) elucidation and management of the structure and function of agro-ecosystems to maintain and enhance the function of natural cycles 3) fundamental studies on elucidation of agro-ecosystem functionality

2 Basic Philosophy, Code of Conduct, and Environmental Charter

The National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sci- tivities ethically and with sound judgment. In particular, ences (NIAES) has endeavored to solve a wide range of there must be no impropriety committed through re- environmental problems affecting agriculture, such as search activities. Furthermore, NIAES works to partner the contamination of agricultural crops by dioxins, ra- with society, assures transparency by upholding open- dioactive substances, cadmium and other harmful ness, fairness, and neutrality, and so enhances its trust- chemical substances; the environmental impact of ge- worthiness. netically modified food plants and exotic organisms; and • Technology Transfer the relationship between global environmental change To protect and apply the results originating from our and agriculture. There is increasing concern about the research as intellectual property, NIAES creates the con- risks to human health and the environment, and re- ditions for providing patents and other information and searchers are being asked to offer solutions based on for domestic and foreign technology transfers. scientific findings. • Public Communications and Information Disclosure The period of NIAES’s phase II medium-term target, By publishing the results of studies and research and which started in April 2006, calls for emphasizing re- by actively disseminating and communicating such research on risks in the agricultural environment in order sults through public lectures and other means, NIAES to ensure the environmental safety that underpins agri- provides for the dissemination of research meant to as- cultural production. By means of exploratory and basic sure the safety of food and the agricultural environment research on risk assessment and risk management, NI- and also works to release information on program activi- AES will develop risk mitigation technologies and pass ties. the benefits of research on to society at large, as well as • Cooperation, Partnership, and International Contribu- contributing to the policy measures of administrative tions authorities and international agencies. By reinforcing partnerships and collaboration with NIAES has created the following Basic Philosophy, industry, academia, and government, NIAES promotes Code of Conduct, and Environmental Charter so that joint research and research cooperation, and extensively personnel will conduct themselves with a high sense of shares the research results with society. NIAES works to ethics and an awareness of their social responsibility, and benefit the agro-environmental policies of administrative undertake to conserve and improve the environment as authorities and international agencies. they proceed with research under the new medium-term target and medium-term plan. Environmental Charter Environmental Philosophy Basic Philosophy To vigorously carry out research activities on NIAES conducts high-level research aiming at the agro-environmental problems and take positive action to harmony and coexistence of nature, society, and humans, contribute to conserving and improving the environment thereby helping to overcome food and environmental and to building a sustainable recycling society. problems throughout the world. Environmental Action Guidelines Code of Conduct • Raising Environmental Consciousness Philosophy of Conduct To create organizations and institutions for environ- To act with a strong sense of ethics and sound social mental management and to work to raise environmental judgment for the purposes of building a safe and consciousness. worry-free society and preserving an agricultural envi- • Concern for the Environment ronment to be passed on to the next generation. To pass To reduce the burden on the environment by being the benefits of NIAES activities on to society at large. diligent in everyday activities such as energy conservation, reuse, recycling, and green procurement. Guidelines for Conduct • Publicizing Activities • Environmental Research For the purpose of improving environmental conser- As a research institute in the forefront of vation and safety and health in program activities, to agro-environmental research in Japan and abroad, NI- broadly publicize the results of environmental conserva- AES actively conducts high-level research activities to tion activities by means including preparing environ- solve environmental problems related to agricultural mental reports and posting on the Web. production. • Symbiosis with Society • Legal Compliance As a member of the local community and interna- NIAES complies with the relevant laws and social tional society, to build a cooperative and symbiotic rela- norms to provide a sound and safe working environment, tionship with society and actively conduct environmental and as a member of society undertakes its program ac- conservation activities.

3 History of NIAES

1893 National Agricultural Experimental Station (NAES) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, a prede- cessor of the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES), is founded.

1950 National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (NIAS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is founded, succeeding NAES.

1980 NIAS main campus is relocated from Nishigahara, Tokyo, to Tsukuba, Ibaraki.

1983 National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery is founded from NIAS to conduct advanced and basic technological development that pertains to the control, maintenance, and utilization of the agro-environment, including the biological environment.

2001 NIAES becomes a semi-autonomous agency on 1 April and begins its first research period (FY 2001 to FY 2005).

2006 NIAES becomes an autonomous agency on 1 April and begins its second research period (FY 2006 to FY 2010).

The main building of NIAES

Highlights in 2006

This research involved collecting data on rice field Research Topics methane emission measurements in Asian countries from 1. A New Method for Calculating Rice Field the existing literature, and building a database compris- Methane Emissions Adopted for the 2006 ing data on 868 growing periods at 103 locations in eight IPCC Guidelines countries. These data were used in analyzing the relationship between average methane flux of entier growing This February in its Fourth Assessment Report the periods and the factors controlling the flux. We then Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) proposed a revised method for calculating the methane more or less concluded that “global warming is already emitted from rice fields, which was adopted for the new happening, and it is caused by the increased greenhouse IPCC guidelines. gas (GHG) emissions by human activities.” It is antici- Basically, the calculation method follows that in the pated that humanity will enter a period of time warmer previous IPCC guidelines by multiplying an emission than any other in human history, and the measures must factor (EF), which represents emission intensity, by the be addressed. For that purpose, worldwide initiatives are rice harvested area (A) and by the number of rice culti- in progress, such as GHG emission reductions in the vation days (t) of all rice fields in the world for each of developed countries made under the Kyoto Protocol, the categories such as irrigated rice fields and rainfed which was adopted in 1997, and based on the UN rice fields (Equation 1). Category-specific emission fac- Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), tors (EFi) are determined by multiplying the baseline which had been adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit. Also, emission factor (EFc) by correction factors, or scaling the framework for the "post Kyoto-agreement" was de- factorsii, that takes into account influences on the emis- bated at the Heiligendamm Summit this year. sions of methane, such as water management and organic The UNFCCC requires parties to estimate their GHG amendment application (Equation 2). inventories of emissions and sinks, and to report them to the convention secretariat. Their estimation methods Amount of methane emitted (Gg yr-1) -6 have been prepared in the form of the Guidelines by the = Σijk (EFijk · tijk · Aijk · 10 ) Equation 1 IPCC. In the past, the parties did their estimates with the Guidelines released in 1996. However, in 2006 the EFi = EFc · SFw · SFp · SFo · SFs,r Equation 2 Guidelines were revised, and from now on the parties are encouraged to use the revised Guidelines as the standard Where: calculation methods for determining their GHG emis- EFijk = emission factor for rice fields in each category -1 -1 sions. These revisions adopted a method for calculating (kg-CH4 ha day ) rice field methane (CH4) emissions which was developed tijk = number of rice cultivation days in rice fields of by a team in which our institution played the leading each category (day) role. Aijk = harvest area of rice fields in each category (ha In the agricultural sector, rice fields are a significant yr-1) -1 -1 anthropogenic source of methane, a major GHG. The EFc = baseline emission factor (kg-CH4 ha day ) measurement method in the 1996 IPCC Guidelines still SFw = scaling factor used for rice field type and water had a great deal of uncertainty for reasons including de- management during growing period termination of the emission factori from a paucity of SFp = scaling factor used for water management be- measured data. For that reason we built and analyzed a fore growing period database which holds measurements of methane emitted SFo = scaling factor used for application of organic from rice fields, and carried out research meant to pro- amendments pose a more precise calculation method. SFs,r = scaling factors used for soil type and rice cultivar (only when applicable)

ⅰ Emission factor: Emission intensity per unit area, used in calculations. ⅱ Scaling factor: A coefficient that shows how methane emission is affected by rice field type, water management, organic amendment application, and other influences. ⅲ Uncertainty range: The IPCC guidelines assign an uncertainty range to emission factors and other values. Because in this case there are sufficient data as the basis for determining calculation factors, we have used the 95% confidence interval as the uncertainty range. ⅳ 2006 IPCC guidelines: http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/index.htm (vol. 4, p. 5.44–53).

5 Highlights in 2006

Table 1 Conversion factors of various organic amendments

ConversionConversion factors factors Amendment for organic amendment UncertaintyUncertainty range range (CFOA)(CFOA)

Compost 0.05 0.01-0.08 Farmyard manure 0.14 0.07-0.20

Green manure 0.50 0.30-0.60

Straw on season (within 30 days 1 0.97-1.04 before rice cultivation)

Straw off season (more than 30 0.29 0.20-0.40 days before rice cultivation)

0.59 4 SFo = (1 + Σi ROAi • CFOAi) Equation 3

3.5 Where: Compost SFo = scaling factor used for application of organic 3 Farmyard manure

flux amendments 4 Green manure ROA = application rate of organic amendments in 2.5 Straw_on_season i -1 Straw_off_season fresh weight (t ha ) 2 CFOAi = conversion factor given in Table 1 Relative CH 1.5 See the 2006 IPCC guidelinesiv for a detailed explanation of the calculation method outlined here. 1 Because these guidelines are used around the world 0 1020304050 for building GHG inventories, they make a considerable Application rate （t ha-1） contribution to refining the calculation of the world’s Fig. 1 Relationship between amounts of various or- GHG emissions as called for by the UNFCCC. (K. Yagi ganic amendments and methane emissions and H. Akiyama) (compared with no organic amendments). See Table 1 for the categorizations of straw amendment. 2. Publication of the “Revised Agricultural Environment Monitoring Manual for Here, the baseline emission factor (EFc), which is the Water Environment Conservation” basis for calculation, is meant for rice fields which have a drainage period of less than 180 days before cultivation, There is now broad awareness of the significant im- which are continuously flooded during the growing sea- pact of agriculture on the water environment, and in son, and which are given no organic amendments. An many places people are implementing various measures analysis using the database yielded a value of 1.30 for water environment conservation, such as the intro- -1 -1 iii kg-CH4 ha day (uncertainty range: 0.80 to 2.20). duction of conservation agriculture techniques. The pre- The 1996 IPCC guidelines used in the past set the base- cise implementation of such measures requires first de- line emission factor at a uniform 200 kg ha-1 per crop, termining the situation at a locality and then implement- which did not take into account differences in rice growing the most effective measures which suit that situation. ing season length due to cultivar and climate. By contrast, To determine the situation at a locality, one must monitor the improved method can better calculate the actual the runoff of nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, and other amount of methane emitted. Additionally, it is now pos- substances from agricultural lands into rivers and ground- sible to correct the relationship of increased methane water. It is also necessary to estimate the load in the in- generation to water management and organic amend- volved watershed of agriculture-derived nitrogen and ments prior to the growing season (Fig. 1, Table 1), other substances from statistical data. To determine the whose significant influence on the amount of methane effectiveness of implemented measures, one must con- emitted is now known (Equation 3). duct a reevaluation based on monitoring, and then make further improvements to the measures if needed.

In 1999, the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Printed versions have been provided to mainly agri- Sciences (NIAES) published the “Agricultural Environ- culture-related independent administrative institutions ment Monitoring Manual for Water Environment Con- and public institutions, as well as to universities and en- servation (in Japanese)” as a comprehensive and practi- vironment-related institutions in Japan. (K. Banzai and K. cal survey manual to perform such agriculture-related Sugahara) water environment monitoring. Relevant agencies in Japan have been using the manual. Since 1999, NIAES has gained many new research findings related to water environment monitoring in our research projects. And because remarkable progress has been achieved in related research areas as well, we incorporated these latest research results for publication of this revised monitoring manual (Fig. 1, 2, 3). The manual uses recent research to explain agricultural environment monitoring methods in plain language. Below are the revised manual’s and chapters (Table 1). The PDF version of this revised manual in Japanese can be downloaded from NIAES website: http://www.niaes.affrc.go.jp/techdoc/monitoring/index.html Fig. 2 Water quality monitoring using an automatic water sampler (IV-3)

Fig. 3 Method for estimating nitrogen load according to pollutant load source in a catchment basin (VI-1)

Table 1 Makeup of Revised Manual Ⅰ Basics of Agricultural Environment Monitoring Ⅱ Watershed Environment Survey Methods Ⅲ Survey Methods for Watershed Load Sources Ⅳ Water Advection Survey Methods Ⅴ Pollutant Matter Behavior Survey Methods Ⅵ Watershed Water Quality Assessment Methods Fig. 1 Procedure to create maps showing the current Ⅶ Assessment of Water Environment Using Biota state of land use (II-5) Ⅷ Information for Water Environment Conservation

7 Highlights in 2006

3. Simple Measurement of Cadmium Con- a qualitative analysis method to determine whether a centration in Unpolished Rice and Soil target substance is above a certain level or not. A familiar Using the Immunochromatographic As- example of it is the pregnancy test. Because anti- say Method gen-antibody reactions themselves are quantitative, it is conceivably possible to a certain extent to estimate con- Introduction centration by reading coloration with an instrument and At its July 2005 session, the Codex Alimentarius comparing it with a reference liquid. In this research, we Commission adopted international standards for cad- explored methods of estimating the Cd concentration in mium (Cd) concentrations in foods including wheat (0.2 unpolished rice using this kit, and examined the possibil- ppm), peeled potatoes (0.1 ppm), and vegetables (0.2 to ity for its use in quick and simple determinations for 0.05 ppm). In July 2006, a new standard of 0.4 ppm was contaminated rice, with the assumed users being agri- adopted for polished rice. It is anticipated that Japan’s cultural extension agencies and others who do not have standards for domestic agricultural produce will be precision analytic instruments or other such equipment. toughened. This creates a need to monitor pre-harvest Cd concentration to prevent the distribution of polluted Measuring the Cd Concentration in Unpolished Rice foods, and otherwise manage risk at production sites, and Using the Immunochromatographic Assay Kit that necessitates the development of fast and simple The immunochromatographic assay kit (made by analysis methods that can yield results one or two days Kansai Electric Power) comprises a process for extract- after sampling, and can be used by agricultural techni- ing and refining the Cd from unpolished rice, and an cians on site. Under present circumstances, analyses are immunochromatographic assay component. Detection time-consuming and costly due to the need for compli- follows the procedure illustrated in Figure 1. cated procedures such as acid digestion or organic sol- Preteatement (Cd extraction and purification): Add vent extraction, and expensive precision analytical in- 20 mL of 0.05 mol L-1 hydrochloric acid solution to a struments such as ICP spectrometry or atomic absorption 2-g sample of powdered and dried unpolished rice, shake equipment. for 1 h, and then filtrate. To remove heavy metals (such Recently the Kansai Electric Power Group developed as Mn, Zn, and Cu) that exhibit cross-reactivity with Cd a Cd detection kit for rice, which uses a technique for and interfere with the antigen-antibody reaction, allow 5 immunological measurement called the immunochroma- mL of this filtrate to pass through an interfering sub- tographic assay method. This kit is a test-paper type that stance removal column and adsorb the Cd into the col- uses the antigen-antibody reaction of the Cd-EDTA umn. Wash interfering substances out of the column by complex and the anti-Cd-EDTA antibody, which reacts adding 5 mL of 0.1 mol L-1 hydrochloric acid solution to specifically with it, and can detect Cd in concentrations the column, then add 5 mL of 0.05 mol L-1 nitric acid of at least 0.01 mg L-1 from the extent of coloration. The solution to elute the Cd. The interfering substance re- immunochromatographic assay method is mainly used as moval column contains silica gel coated with a chelating

Fig. 1 Procedure to detect Cd in unpolished rice using the immunochromatographic assay kit

agent that specifically adsorbs Cd. the known concentration. Judging by these results, it is Detection by immunochromatographic assay: Mix possible to use the Immunochromatographic Assay Kit 380 µL of EDTA buffer solution with 20 µL of the pre- for roughly determining Cd concentrations of unpolished treated solution, and allow 100 µL of the mixture to react rice in the field if measurements are repeated a number with a gold colloid label antibody. Drop 75 µL of that of times. into the immunochromatography detection device, wait 40 to 50 min for coloration to stabilize, and measure the extent of coloration with a chromatoreader. Figure 2 presents the results of coloration extent measurements made by performing immunochromatographic assays on pretreated solutions of unpolished rice with various concentrations of Cd, and on Cd reference solutions. Coloration readings corresponding to Cd concentrations assume a sigmoid curve, which is usual for the antigen-antibody reaction, and in the Cd concentration range from 0.01 to 0.1 mg L-1, there was a good linear relationship between the logarithmic values of Cd concentrations and our readings. Thus, we found that it is Fig. 2 Calibration curve for exponential equation ap- possible to create a calibration curve (exponential equa- proximations. Coloration readings are shown -1 -1 with an attenuation rate in which 0.001 mg L tion) using 0.01 to 0.1 mg L Cd reference solutions, and is 100. from the coloration readings calculate the Cd concentration of an extracted and purified solution. Figure 3 plots the relationship between unpolished rice Cd concentrations quantified by a precision analysis (acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)) and Cd concentrations in unpolished rice calculated by the immunochromatographic assay method. We obtained a good regression with a slope of about 1. Table 1 shows the spread in Cd concentrations obtained when using the immunochromatographic assay method to measure samples with concentrations near -1 those of the international standard (0.4 mg kg ) and the -1 Japanese standard (1.0 mg kg ), and reference samples Fig. 3 Comparison of unpolished rice Cd concentra- (NIES CRM Nos. 10a and 10b). No. 10-a, which has an tions determined by the immunochroma- extremely low concentration, was higher in all runs than tographic assay method (pretreatment + immunochromatographic assay) and the acid the certified value, but Sample 10-b and Sample I, for digestion and ICP-MS method. which runs were all near the international standard (0.4 Immunochromatographic assay values are the mg kg-1), were distributed in the range of 80 to 120% of averages of three runs.

Table 1 Distribution of Cd concentration values measured in unpolished rice samples (reference samples and samples close to concentrations of standards) using the immunochromatographic assay method in comparison with certified or ICP-MS measured values. Average value ± standard deviation. Certified values or Immunochromatographic ICP-MS measured assay method values (mg kg-1) (mg kg-1) NIES CRM No.10-a 0.023±0.003* 0.065±0.017

NIES CRM No.10-b 0.32±0.02* 0.31±0.05

Sample Ⅰ 0.47 0.47±0.05 Sample Ⅱ 1.05 0.98±0.22 ＊certified values

9 Highlights in 2006

Points to Keep in Mind When Measuring Cd Con- grafted with squash rootstock, and examined the effec- centration with the Immunochromatographic Assay tiveness of reduction of residual dieldrin in cucumbers Kit using various low-absorption cultivars. This method can be used as a simple and quick means of approximating Cd concentration but because of Differences Among Cultivars in the Absorption of the average 14% (2 to 41%) coefficient of variance in Dieldrin by Grafted Cucumbers measurements of unpolished rice Cd concentration, a Most cucumbers in Japan are grown with grafted close examination using precision analysis is needed to vines using squash rootstock. Thus, when looking for determine, for example, whether a sample near a stan- cultivars that absorb less dieldrin, one must examine dard value meets the standard. both the squash rootstock and the cucumber scion. Be- Additionally, we are now investigating whether this fore the grafting test, therefore, we used soil contami- immunochromatographic assay kit can be used for soil nated with dieldrin to grow young plants of 10 squash Cd concentration measurements as well. The Agricul- cultivars commonly used as rootstocks for growing cu- tural Land Soil Pollution Prevention Law requires that cumbers, and of 23 cucumber cultivars used as scions. soil Cd concentration be determined by extracting Cd Dieldrin concentrations in their shoots were compared from the soil using 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, which (Fig. 2). We found that for the squash plants used as means there will be problems with Cu and other inter- rootstock and the cucumber plants used as scions, there fering elements, but it appears that if a column is used were two- to three-fold differences in the absorption of for purification as with unpolished rice, comparatively soil dieldrin among cultivars. Judging from this result, precise measurements can be made. (K. Abe) taking advantage of inter-cultivar differences in absorption ability appears to offer hope for reducing contamination. 4. Decreasing Dieldrin Residue in Cucum- bers by Using Low-Absorption Rootstock Which Controls Dieldrin Absorption — Rootstock or Scion? Introduction To offer “low-absorption cultivars” for the produc- Dieldrin (Fig. 1) is one of the 12 substances regulated tion of grafted cucumbers using squash rootstock, one by the "Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic must determine whether the dieldrin absorption of the Pollutants" (Stockholm POPs Convention) (adopted in grafted plant is controlled by the squash rootstock or the 2001, entered into force in 2004), and in the past was cucumber scion. To test this, from among the tested cul- widely used on agricultural land in Japan as an insecti- tivars (Fig. 2) we chose three squash rootstock cultivars cide (registered in 1954, registration lapsed in 1975). (from largest to smallest absorption: Shintosa-1gou > Dieldrin is very stable in the environment, with a re- Hikaripower-gold > Yuyuikki-black) and two cucumber ported half-life in soil between 5 and 25 years. As such, scion cultivars (Sharp 1 > Natsubayashi), all with differ- once it is added to the soil, it does not easily decompose, ent dieldrin absorptions. These were used to make grafts and it remains in farmland even now, over 30 years since with all six possible scion/rootstock combinations, which its use was discontinued in Japan. Dieldrin levels ex- were cultivated in pots containing two types of soil with ceeding the residue standard were recently detected in residual dieldrin. Dieldrin concentrations of the resulting cucumbers produced in several regions. This discovery cucumbers were compared (Fig. 3). attracted public concern as a matter that weakens confi- Dieldrin in the cucumbers of the grafted plants in- dence in “food safety;” producers were obliged to take creased or decreased in both the Sharp 1 and Natsubaya- urgent measures such as discarding cucumbers, and test- shi cucumber scion cultivars in accordance with the ing cucumbers and soil for the residues. squash rootstock cultivar used. From largest to smallest To avoid such problems, we compared the absorption concentrations, the squash cultivars were Shintosa-1gou of dieldrin in soil by various cultivars using cucumbers > Hikaripower-gold > Yuyuikki-black. This order matches that of the dieldrin absorption ability of root- Cl Cl stock cultivars (see Fig. 2). The dieldrin absorption of Cl grafted plants was influenced little by differences in O Cl scion cultivars but greatly by rootstock cultivars. There-

Cl fore, the selection of low-absorption rootstock cultivars Cl is important for reducing the concentration of dieldrin in Fig. 1 Chemical structure of dieldrin grafted cucumbers.

1000 1500 750 Squash Cucumber 1000 500 500 250

0 0

Pilot in(µg/kg shoots dw) Dieldrin concentration Vroad Kinsei Ocean

Sharp1 Taishou Batorah Taishou2 Naoyoshi Sachinari Yoshinari Tokiwa21 Sharp301 Kirameki Ancohru-8 Kurodane HokkikouJP Sokodikara Highgreen22 Greenrakkus Highgreen21 Natsusuzumi Shin-hokusei Hikaripower Natsubayashi Kraimah-1gou Nankyoku-2gou Yuyuikki-white Yuyuikki-black Shintosa-1gou Excelent-fushinari

Hikaripower-gold New-super-unryu Fig. 2 Inter-cultivar differences in shoot dieldrin concentrations of squash (rootstock) cultivars and cucumber (scion) cultivars. Error bars indicate standard deviations (n=3).

0.1 Andosol Brown Lowland Soil

0.08 0.06

0.04

0.02 cucumbers (mg/kg fw) fw) (mg/kg cucumbers

Dieldrin concentration in 0 Scion Sharp1 Natsubayashi Sharp1 Natsubayashi

r r r r

-black -black -black -black -1gou -1gou -1gou -1gou -gold -gold -gold -gold Yuyuikki Yuyuikki Yuyuikki Yuyuikki Yuyuikki Shintosa Shintosa Shintosa Shintosa Rootstock Rootstock Hikaripowe Hikaripowe Hikaripowe Hikaripowe Fig. 3 Influence of rootstock cultivar difference on dieldrin concentration of grafted cucumbers. Error bars indicate standard errors (n=3).

Reducing the Concentration of Dieldrin in Cucum- 5. "The Invasive Alien Species" Golden bers with Low-Absorption Rootstock Cultivars Mussel Has Broadened Its Distribution to Although the test results presented here are from cul- About Half of the Lake Kasumigaura tivation in pots, when using low-absorption rootstock Shore such as the Yuyuikki-black, the dieldrin concentration in cucumbers was about 30 to 50% lower than when using The Golden Mussel, a Invasive Alien Species high-absorption rootstock, no matter which scion cultivar Exotic organisms are not originally present in a cer- was used (Fig. 3). Currently, regional agricultural re- tain region, but invaded from another region mainly due search agencies are conducting local demonstration test- to human activity. The Invasive Alien Species Act gives ing on the effectiveness of reducing the concentration of the designation of "Invasive Alien Species” to exotic dieldrin in cucumbers by using low-absorption rootstock organisms from other countries especially which have (or cultivars. This is a promising technique that can reduce may have) a seriously harmful impact on ecosystems and the dieldrin contamination of cucumbers without requir- human livelihoods. The Invasive Alien Species Act ing extra cost or labor, and it is hoped that it will be in- regulates importation, keeping, transport, and other ac- cluded in prefectures’ manuals of measures to cope with tions for such organisms. agricultural problems. The golden mussel is a bivalve species designated as This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-aid a Invasive Alien Species. It is a native to China, and is (Hazardous Chemicals) from the Ministry of Agriculture, known for the heavy damage on natural environments Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. (T. Otani and N. Seike) and human livelihood (Fig. 1).

11 Highlights in 2006

rocks, and searching on underwater embankments by manually feeling for them. This survey confirmed their presence at 41 locations, mainly along the shore in the lake’s western part (Fig. 2). We found many golden mussels on concrete embankments and under rocks (Fig. 3), and the highest concentration was a survey site at Hasamado in Ami Town, Inashiki County. At this location, one survey member was able to collect 152 golden mussels in 10 min. Judging by the distribution and density data for the entire lake, the mussel’s habitat range is expanding outward from the lake’s western area. When considered in the light of golden mussel growth rate data obtained in the past, the present size of the golden mus- Fig. 1 Photograph of golden mussels attached to a sels inhabiting the lake suggests that they invaded the rock from the western shore of Lake Kasumi- lake no later than 2004. gaura This survey was conducted only in parts of Lake Kasumigaura that are shallower than 1 m, while the lake The Golden Mussel Has Invaded Lake Kasumigaura! has an average depth of 4 m and a maximum depth of 7 The invasion of the golden mussel into the m. Reports from past research say that golden mussels Kiso-Nagara-Ibi River system and Lake Biwa-Yodo establish themselves in the greatest density at the depth River System was confirmed in the 1990's, and reports of 6 m. The mussel's actual distribution may have a began to emerge on damage to various water facilities. greater extent than indicated in Figure 2. Starting in the second half of the 1980's, there were re- It is known that in part of the area belonging to the ports that golden mussels were mixed into shipments of Lake Kasumigaura system, golden mussels that invaded live Asian Clams (Corbicula fluminea) imported from irrigation water facilities have already caused damage China; it is therefore likely that the golden mussel in- such as plugging water distribution pipes. Areas where vaded Japan via these shipments. Since 2000, the pres- the golden mussel is distributed will require caution, for ence of the golden mussel has been newly confirmed in example when moving fishing equipment and operating prefectures outside of Western Honshu, such as Aichi, irrigation facilities. Especially in the vicinity of areas Gunma, and Shizuoka prefectures. In November 2005, where this species is found in high density, it will per- someone discovered a large number of golden mussels haps be necessary to take measures of some kind to pre- attached to net pens in Lake Kasumigaura in Ibaraki Prefecture. Lake Kasumigaura is Japan’s second-largest lake after Lake Biwa, and its water is used mainly for tapwater and agricultural water supplies throughout the large Kanto region. It is possible that the golden mussel will have a serious impact on such water utilization facilities connected with Lake Kasumigaura. However, the discovery was recent, and almost nothing was known of the golden mussel’s ecology in the lake prior to that. The National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES) therefore surveyed the distribution of the golden mussel in Lake Kasumigaura and estimated the time of its invasion.

The Golden Mussel Has Already Broadened Its Dis- Fig. 2 Distribution of golden mussels in Lake Ka- sumigaura. The survey was performed by tribution to Half of the Lake Kasumigaura Shore having one person look for mussels for 10 From June to September 2006, we performed a habi- min at each survey location. Circles identify tat survey of the golden mussel in 90 locations along the survey locations, and the more individuals shore of Lake Kasumigaura at depths of under 1 m; we found, the more each circle is filled in. The star identifies the location where the most used techniques such as looking for them visually under individuals were found.

the GM soybeans (Fig. 2). (2) To make the flowering periods overlap more, we planted GM soybeans three times. As a result, flowering overlapped 25 to 32 days. The combination in which GM soybeans were planted on July 20 brought both species’ full-bloom periods closest together (Fig. 3).

Color and Size of Hybrid Seed We harvested and inspected a total of 32,502 wild soybean seeds, and found one that was a hybrid with the GM soybean. This hybrid seed was found from among the 11,860 seeds yielded when GM soybeans were planted on July 20 (Table). We cultivated this hybrid seed, some characteristics such as size of pods/seeds and the color of seeds were between GM and wild species Fig. 3 Diagrams showing where golden mussels were (Fig. 4). found on concrete embankments (above) and sandy beaches (below) Conclusion

There have been reports of natural hybridization be- vent the spread of golden mussels, such as restricting the tween non-GM soybeans and wild soybeans, but this is movement of fishing gear and aquatic products. (K. Ito) the first instance that GM soybeans were used. These results show that if GM soybeans are cultivated in Japan, it is possible they would naturally hybridize with wild 6. Low Possibility of Hybridization Between Genetically Modified Soybeans and Wild Soybeans in Cultivated Fields

Introduction Genetically modified (GM) soybeans with tolerance to herbicides are being grown in more and more areas throughout the world for reduction in labor and cost in weed management and so on. Although GM soybeans are currently not commercially grown in Japan, an an- cestor species, the wild soybean (Glycine soja), grows along rivers, in vacant lots, and other places in Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Japan (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Wild soybeans entwined around tall gold- It is concerned that they might hybridize with wild soy- enrod (Tsukuba, Ibaraki) beans growing nearby if GM soybeans were grown.

However, soybeans and wild soybeans are strongly disposed toward fertilization within the same flower

(autogamy), making for a very low possibility of fertilization by pollen moving to another flower (allogamy).

Further, because the plants flower at different times, it follows that natural hybridization of GM and wild soy- Wild soybean beans would occur with difficulty.

Two Conditions Used to Facilitate Hybridization GM soybean

In this experiment, we set up conditions in an experimental field under which hybridization between GM and wild soybeans could easily occur. (1) GM and wild soybeans were planted next to one another so that in the Fig. 2 A wild soybean entwined around a GM summer, the climbing wild soybeans entwined around soybean (August 31, 2005)

13 Highlights in 2006

Wild soybean seedlings

transplanted on May 27 Flowering period Full-bloom period 6/20 GM soybean seedlings 7/5 with three different 7/20 planted dates

8/1 8/10 8/20 9/1 9/10 9/20 Fig. 3 Comparison of flowering periods of GM soybean planted at three different dates and wild soybeans transplanted on May 27

Table The number of total and hybrid seeds in wild soybean in hybridization test with GM soybean GM soybean seeds planted dates 6/20 7/5 7/20 Totals

The number of seeds of wild soybean 7,814 12,828 11,860 32,502

The number of hybrid seeds in wild soybean 0 0 1 1

Pod

Seed

F1 plant

GM F1 Wild Fig. 4 Hybrid of GM and wild soybeans obtained in this test (left), and pods and seeds of GM, hybrid and wild soybeans soybeans growing naturally nearby. However, consider- (from the 17th to 19th centuries), and in the 1950s there ing that only one hybrid seed was obtained by artificially were about 300,000 ponds. However, because of agri- overlapping the two species’ flowering periods and also cultural development and urbanization the number of growing them very close to one another, as in this ex- irrigation ponds has rapidly decreased and the environ- periment, this clearly shows that the possibility of hy- mental quality for the organisms inhabiting the ponds has bridization in nature between wild soybeans and GM declined. Consequently, the abundance of many soybeans is extremely low. (Y. Yoshimura, K. Matsuo pond-dwelling species has been reduced, and some spe- and A. Mizuguti) cies are endangered. To conserve the organisms living in the ponds we need to gain an understanding of the environments in which these organisms thrive. We therefore 7. Environmental Characteristics of Irriga- investigated the relationship between pond environment tion Ponds as Dragonfly Habitats and the species composition of dragonflies, as a representative organism found in the ponds. The study sites As alternatives to wetlands in the floodplains of riv- were about 70 ponds located to the southeast of Mt. ers, paddy ecosystems are important habitats for aquatic Tsukubasan in Ibaraki Prefecture. We surveyed the spe- organisms. In Japan many freshwater species inhabit cies and abundance of dragonflies in the study ponds, the irrigation ponds: for example, about half of the species of environments within the ponds, and the land uses around freshwater plants and of dragonflies depend on these the ponds. Land use was analyzed by a geographic in- ponds. The irrigation ponds that supply water to rice formation system (GIS). The data obtained were ana- paddy fields were constructed mainly in the Edo era lyzed by multivariate analysis.

A total of 41 dragonfly species were recorded at the the indicator species. The ponds in group 1, however, study sites. The number and composition of these species were distributed around the intersection of the two axes, varied among the ponds. A cluster analysis was per- indicating no distinctive environmental characteristics. formed to classify ponds with similar species composi- The indicator species of group 1 (Table 1) were common tions into the same groups; the analysis produced six dragonflies found in many ponds, a fact that was consis- pond groups (Table 1). In addition, an indicator species tent with this result. The ponds of groups 5 and 6 were analysis (INSPAN) was performed to determine the in- characterized by concrete revetment and were considered dicator species (species representative of each pond to be bad habitats for dragonflies, because fewer dragon- group), and four to nine indicator species were statisti- fly species were found there than in the other ponds and cally selected for each of groups 1, 2, and 4 (Table 1). no indicator species were selected from these groups. In Groups 1, 2, and 4 had more species of dragonfly than contrast, many species inhabited pond groups 1, 2, and 4, groups 3, 5, and 6 (Table 1). so these groups were good habitats for dragonflies. In To characterize each pond group, the study ponds particular, groups 2 and 4 had different environmental were ordinated by another statistical method, non-metric characteristics, suggesting that it is important to conserve multidimensional scaling (NMDS) (Fig. 1). The ponds the environments of different groups of ponds. were plotted on a coordinate system the axes of which This study revealed the irrigation pond characteristics were correlated with certain environmental variables; that provide good environments for dragonflies. To en- thus, ponds with similar characteristics were plotted near sure the viability of species and populations of organisms, each other. The ponds of each group were distributed it is important to make a network of habitats as well as to near each other on the ordination space (Fig. 1), indicat- conserve each habitat. The irrigation ponds sometimes ing that each group had specific environmental charac- dry up through drought or are drained for desilting; at teristics. Correlation analyses between the two axes and these times aquatic organisms cannot survive in them. the environmental variables of the ponds gave the fol- However, if the organisms are able to immigrate from lowing results. The ponds in group 2 were surrounded by other ponds after the dried ponds have refilled with water, forests, and the bottoms of ponds were covered with de- their populations will recover. We are developing meth- bris such as dead leaves. The ponds in group 4 were rela- ods for analyzing the effect of the spatial distribution of tively large in area and were surrounded by open space ponds on dragonfly populations. (K. Tanaka, T. Yama- in the form of crop fields and wastelands. These charac- naka, N. Iwasaki, D. S. Sprague and Y. Nakatani) teristics were consistent with the habitat preferences of

Table 1 Classification of ponds and indicator dragonfly species representative for each pond group

Group Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Mean no. 12.2 11.0 7.3 15.8 6.9 6.0 of species Sympetrum Copera Cercion No No No infuscatum annulata calamorum Indicator Macromia Orthetrum Cercion species amphigena triangulare sieboldii Orthetrum Mnais Ischnura albistylum pruinosa senegalensis Pseudothemis Anax Ischnura zonata nigrofasciatus asiatica Deielia phaon Crocothemis servilia Sinictinogomphus clavatus Anax parthenope Epophthalmia elegans

15 Highlights in 2006

Abundant aquatic plants

Axis 2

Surrounded by forests Debris on bottom 4 1 2

Surrounded by open area

Large pond area Axis 1

Group 1 Group 4

Group 2 Group 5

Group 3 Group 6

Concrete revetment

Fig. 1 Grouping of ponds on the basis of dragonfly habitat characteristics. Circles show the pond groups for which indicator species were selected in Table 1. Yellow arrows and boxes indicate environmental characteristics. Photographs show typical ponds in groups 2 and 4.

8. The Smaller Tea Tortrix Moth Exhibits that the possibilities of such changes are small. Resistance to Mating Disruptant (Sex The effective ingredient of mating disruptant is Pheromone) (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:Ac) has been used to control the smaller tea tortrix moth (Adoxophyes honmai) Introduction (Fig. 1), but its effectiveness has plummeted, and in 1996 Chemicals known as sex pheromones, which induce this was reported as the world's first instance of mating mating behavior in insects, are used in mating disrup- disruptant resistance. To develop mating disruptants that tants that serve as environmentally friendly pesticides. do not cause resistance, we are conducting research to These pest control agents do not directly kill insects. Instead, sex pheromones wafting in the air make it difficult for adult male insects to recognize the sex pheromones emitted by adult female insects for mating, thereby preventing adult males from locating adult females of their own species. This effectively reduces opportunities for adult males to mate, and decreases the number of offspring. Because sex pheromones act dif- ferently on each insect, this technique can be used to block target insects alone, and therefore makes very environmentally benign insect pest control possible. Fur- ther, because mating disruptants using sex pheromones interfere with the species recognition process, developing resistance requires that the ways of species recogni- Fig. 1 The smaller tea tortrix moth. Adult male on tion should be changed, and it was therefore believed left, adult female on right.

tion. Our test was conducted by releasing 10 male and 10 female adult smaller tea tortrix moth into 1-L glass con- tainers into which we had put mating disruptant (Z11-14:Ac), then checking to see what percentage of them were able to mate. The higher the mating rate at the same concentration, the greater the insects’ resistance. Just after collecting moths from the field, about 60% of them were able to mate at a concentration of 0.001 mg/L, however, total interference occurred at 0.1 mg/L. The same held true until the 35th generation after selection. In the 46th generation, about 80% of the moths were able

to mate at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L, and the mating Fig. 2 The mating disruptant formulation using sex pheromone, placed in tea bushes rate did not show much decline even if the concentration was raised. Even at 1 mg/L, at least 60% of the moths determine what causes the expression of resistance. could mate (Fig. 3). Because the strength of this resis- The mating disruptant formulation is a tube-like ob- tance remained unchanged for 4 years after this selection, ject folded in two (Fig. 2). These are placed throughout a it was clear that the insects had gained resistance to the whole tea field at intervals of 1.5 to 2 m. The sex mating disruptant. pheromone components are sealed into a polyethylene tube or other container so that they are slowly released Attraction of Mating Disruptant-Resistant Insect over a period of several months. Strain in an Indoor Wind Tunnel Sex pheromone components needed to attract the Selection of Insect Strain with Resistance to Mating smaller tea tortrix moth are the two substances, Disruptant (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:Ac) and Z11-14:Ac We collected many smaller tea tortrix moth from a (mixed in a 7:3 ratio). The pheromone has no attractive tea field in Shizuoka Prefecture where resistance has power without one of these components. We used an been reported. Into a container that contained a mating indoor wind tunnel (30 cm in diameter and 2 m long) to disruptant (Z11-14:Ac) in high concentration, we put investigate the reactivity to sex pheromone components adult males and females, allowed them to mate, and col- of adult males from a standard strain having no resis- lected the eggs. The insects born from these eggs would tance and from the resistant strain (R strain). Adult males be descended from insects that can mate even in the from the standard strain (blue) reacted well to a sample presence of high-concentration of the mating disruptant. of the binary mixture of Z9-14:Ac and Z11-14:Ac (Fig. 4, The offspring were raised on artificial food and became left), but did not react to a sample of only Z9-14:Ac adults in about one month. We repeatedly raised insects without Z11-14:Ac (Fig. 4, right). However, adult males in the same way and selected insects that can mate even from the R strain (red) reacted strongly to the sample of under conditions of higher mating disruptant concentra- only Z9-14:Ac without Z11-14:Ac (Fig. 4, right). This

Fig. 3 Acquisition of strong resistance to the mating disruptant

17 Highlights in 2006

Fig. 4 Reactivity of adult males to sex pheromone components means that R-strain adult males had gained an unex- world’s population, is important from the perspective of pected character. a stable food supply. This makes it necessary to accurately predict the future amount of rice production.

Reason for Resistance to the Mating Disruptant It is known that rising CO2 concentration promotes When the atmospheric concentration of the mating photosynthesis of a single-leaf in upper layer of rice disruptant (Z11-14:Ac) is high, it interferes with the sex canopies, but the extent gradually declines as plant pheromone signal released by adult females, making it growth proceeds. However, it is not clear whether en- difficult for adult males to find adult females. However, hancement of total photosynthesis of rice plant canopies, because R-strain adult males do not need Z11-14:Ac as a which consist of many individual leaves, declines in sex pheromone signal, they are less susceptible to the conjunction with growth. Because a simple integration of mating disruptant. This appears to be one reason for the single-leaf measurements does not adequately explain manifestation of resistance to the disruptant. the canopy responses and influences on canopy photosynthesis are directly linked to the growth rate of rice Conclusion plant, they are one cause of uncertainty in predicting It is conceivable that there was in the field a very future rice plant production. This research was conducted small number of adult male smaller tea tortrix moth that to determine if the enhancement of canopy photosynthe- can locate adult females without Z11-14:Ac, and that sis by elevated CO2 concentration declines as it does in owing to the continued use of Z11-14:Ac as a mating individual leaves, and if so, to find the causes. disruptant, the percentage of adult males with this character gradually increased, and resistance to mating dis- Response of Canopy Photosynthesis to Elevated CO2 ruptants appeared. Future use of sex pheromones for Concentration insect control through mating disruption will require We used six controlled-environment chambers (Fig. periodic examination of resistance. (H. Sugie and J. Ta- 1) in the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sci- bata) ences to grow rice plants (the “Nipponbare” cultivar) for three years under two conditions: current atmospheric

CO2 concentration (380 ppm) and elevated CO2 concen-

9. Enhancement of Rice Plant Canopy Pho- tration (680 ppm). By continuously measuring the CO2 tosynthesis by Elevated Atmospheric CO2 balance in each of these controlled-environment cham- Concentration Is Dependent on Leaf Ni- bers, we calculated the daytime photosynthetic rates and trogen Concentration nighttime respiration rates of the rice plant canopies. This experiment revealed, for the first time on the Introduction canopy level, that the canopy photosynthesis enhance-

Atmospheric CO2 concentration is now 380 ppm and ment rate due to elevated CO2 concentration was highest rising, and is predicted to reach between 540 and 970 in the initial growth stage, and gradually declined as ppm by the end of this century. Rising atmospheric CO2 growth proceeded (Fig. 2). On the other hand, enhance- concentration will conceivably have a major influence on ment rate of canopy nighttime respiration was also high- crop production. Especially the influence on production est in the initial stage but does not declined in parallel of rice, which is a staple food for about one-half of the with that of canopy photosynthesis after then. Because

Fig. 2 Changes in the rate at which canopy photosyn- Fig. 1 Naturally sunlit controlled-environment cham- thesis and respiration are enhanced by ele- bers at the National Institute for Agro-Envi- vated CO2 concentration during rice growth ronmental Sciences. Here it is possible to in- period. Although the photosynthesis enhance- vestigate plant response, canopy photosyn- ment rate by elevated CO2 concentration thesis and respiration rates, and other things gradually declined as the rice plants grew, under natural sunlight conditions with con- there was no decrease in the respiration en- trolling the air temperature, humidity, and hancement rate. CO2 concentration inside the chamber.

rice plant growth rate is determined by the balance of rice plant canopy photosynthesis and respiration, the enhancement rate of rice plant growth due to elevated

CO concentration declines as plant growth proceeds. 2

Reason for Declining Canopy Photosynthesis En- hancement Rate

Generally, the photosynthetic capacity of individual leaves is closely related to leaf nitrogen concentration.

We therefore investigated the relationship between canopy photosynthetic capacity (photosynthetic rate per amount of light captured) and leaf nitrogen concentration, and found that there is a curvilinear relationship between them (Fig. 3). Further, we found that the relationship Fig. 3 Relationship between rice plant canopy photo- differs according to CO2 concentration. It is evident from synthetic efficiency and leaf nitrogen concen- Fig. 3 that when leaf nitrogen concentration was high, tration, obtained from a 3-year experiment. As the canopy photosynthesis enhancement rate was high, the nitrogen content per unit leaf area (leaf nitrogen concentration) dropped, the differ- and that as leaf nitrogen concentration decreased, the ence between the two CO2 concentration enhancement rate declined. Because at both CO2 con- groups became smaller. This result implies centrations, leaf nitrogen concentration declined as that the rate at which canopy photosynthesis growth proceeded, the canopy photosynthesis enhance- is enhanced by increased CO2 concentration declines in tandem with nitrogen concentra- ment rate fell off. Additionally, it was observed that leaf tion, when leaf nitrogen concentrations of rice nitrogen concentration of rice plants grown at the high plants grown under ambient and elevated CO2 CO2 concentration was lower than that of rice plants concentration are same. grown at the ambient CO2 concentration. This phe- nomenon was also a factor that lowered the canopy photosynthesis enhancement rate. In other words, we found Conclusion that change in the rice plant canopy photosynthesis en- These results indicate that accurately predicting rice hancement rate can be explained by change in leaf nitro- production when CO2 concentration has risen requires gen concentration, which is in turn governed by progress accurately predicting the nitrogen concentration in rice in plant growth and high CO2 concentration. plants (especially leaves) under elevated CO2 concentra-

19 Highlights in 2006 tion. Also, we expect that nitrogen management is im- patterns in the Mekong Delta. portant to develop adaptive cultivation techniques, which take maximum advantage of the “fertilizer” effect of The Mekong Delta in Vietnam higher CO2 concentration on rice plant growth. (H. Sa- Since adopting a market-oriented economy, the pro- kai) duction efficiency of Vietnamese agriculture has improved considerably, increasing about 2.3-times to 36.2 million ton in 2004 compared to the 15.9 million t har- 10. Monitoring Spatio-Temporal Changes in vested in 1985. The Mekong Delta is located on the Flooding and Rice Cultivation in the southern end of the Indochina Peninsula and produces Mekong Delta Using Satellite Data approximately half of the rice in Vietnam. According to agricultural statistics of UN Food and Agriculture Or- Introduction ganization (FAO), Vietnam is the world’s second-largest Considerable concern exists regarding the effect that rice exporter after Thailand (3.8 million t in 2003, ap- changes in climate and future water-resource develop- proximately 13% of the world’s total rice exports). ment in the upper Mekong catchment will have on river Nearly 90% of the rice exported from Vietnam is pro- stream-flow and how this will impact on agricultural duced in the Mekong Delta. The Vietnamese rice is con- production. In order to predict future Asian food produc- sumed in many Asian countries such as the Philippines tion, it is important to observe both the extant water en- and Indonesia and so forth. It indicates that the Mekong vironment and agricultural land-use changes over a large Delta is an important region for predicting future Asian region, and to understand their dynamic interrelationship. rice supply. Various types of satellite data have been employed to observe agricultural area and to detect changes in inun- Determination of Annual Flood Dynamics in the Me- dated areas. However, the long period of monitoring cy- kong River cles and low resolution of the former satellite sensor of- Figure 1 shows the estimated result of the first day, ten affect the estimate accuracy of flood expansion and last day, and duration of flooding in the Mekong Delta crop growth. We therefore tried using time-series satel- for the years 2000 through 2004. The results indicate that lite data acquired by MODIS/Terra, which provides the duration and the last day of large-scale floods high-resolution ground surface reflectance data almost (2000-2002) were longer and ended later than those of daily. We developed a method for analyzing the spa- small- or middle- scale floods (2003-2004). It was also tio-temporal changes in the flooded areas as well as rice found that the spatio-temporal distribution of the flood- growth stage using water and vegetation indexes, which water, which restricts rice cropping from the rainy season show the status of inundation and plant coverage of the to the early dry season, was uneven in upstream-regions ground surface. Here we describe the results obtained by for any given year. this method to monitor 5-year flooding and rice-cropping

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 First day of flooding

4/20 8/1 6/10 9/22

Las t day of flooding

7/1 11/16 9/17 1/16 Duration of flooding (days)

10 123 67 180 Fig. 1 Estimated first day of flooding, last day of flooding, and flooding period in the Mekong Delta for the years 2000 through 2004

2002

2003 2001 2002 2003

Change from double cropping to triple cropping Enhanced Vegetat ion Index (EVI)

Day of year start ing on January 1 Rice cropping patterns

Triple cropping

Double cropping [mostly in dry season]

Double cropping [mostly in rainy season] Double cropping [dry and rainy seasons] Single cropping [mostly in dry season] 2005 2004 Single cropping [mostly in rainy season]

Fig. 2 Estimated rice-cropping patterns in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Graphs on the right show the changes in the vegetation index at the locations indicated by the red arrows.

Yearly Changes in Rice-Cropping Patterns 2), we found that the construction of new dykes had We classified rice-cropping patterns (such as triple made it possible to grow rice during the rainy season by cropping or double cropping [mostly in the dry season]), protecting the areas from inundation due to flooding. according to the number and timing of peaks in smoothed Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data (Fig. 2, Conclusion right). An annual increase in intensive agricultural produc- In the upstream-regions (blue areas), the cropping tion in the Mekong Delta has accompanied the introduc- pattern was classified as double rice cropping which is tion of market-oriented economy, relaxed controls on practiced so as to avoid flooding in the rainy season. In land use, and the mitigation of flooding events due to the coastal-zone (orange areas), the intrusion of saline renewed development in flood-control infrastructure. water from the sea through the canal network occurs due The economy has had the effect of changing land use, to decreased river-water flow during the dry season. particularly in coastal areas where rice fields are rapidly Since this has a negative effect on rice cultivation in the being converted into shrimp ponds (white areas in Fig. 1). dry season, the farmers in these areas employ double rice Such transitions are not restricted to the Mekong Delta, cropping mostly during the rainy season. In the mid- and have also occurred elsewhere in Asia. Consequently, stream region, where neither flooding nor salinity intru- there are concerns that both agricultural production and sion have serious impacts, there is an extensive tri- regional environment will be affected by the rapid ple-cropping region (green areas). These findings show land-use changes that have occurred in response to rapid that rice-cropping patterns in the Mekong Delta are very economic development. These changes in the water en- closely related to the amount of water resources, which vironment are particularly serious when considered changes both qualitatively and quantitatively due to the within the context of global warming and the develop- influence of the Asian monsoon. In addition, annual ment of water resources. In order to deal with these changes in the rice-cropping patterns observed from problems effectively, it is necessary to accurately deter- 2001 through 2005 indicate a pronounced increase in rice mine the state of land use through continuous monitoring production, with midstream and upstream areas changing using satellite data. (T. Sakamoto, N. Ishitsuka, H. Ohno from double cropping to triple cropping. In the areas and M. Yokozawa) where on-site surveys were performed (see arrows in Fig.

21 Highlights in 2006

11. A Web-Based Illustrated Key to Japanese Tribe Pilophorini Species of the Tribe Pilophorini (Hemip- The tribe Pilophorini belongs to family Miridae tera, Miridae) (plant bug), subfamily Phylinae, and is a comparatively small group with about 150 species known worldwide. Introduction Seventeen species have been found in Japan. They are Many species in plant bug tribe Pilophorini are be- very small bugs ranging in length from 2 to 4 mm. lieved to prey on mites and small insects, and play a role Members of the genus Pilophorus Hahn, found among as a natural enemy of mites and other organisms in the this group, are known for their slim bodies, which are natural environment. Pilophorus setulosus, the most myrmecomorphic. These species have characteristic 2 common species of this tribe, is found in large numbers rows of silvery scale-like setae on hemelytra, and look in agricultural ecosystems, chiefly rural farming districts, just like ants whose abdomens have been constricted (Fig. and it lives on various deciduous trees. This tribe, espe- 2). It is said that nearly all the species of this tribe are cially its largest genus Pilophorus Hahn, includes many predatory, but the details of their ecology have yet to be species that are similar to one another in color and mor- elucidated. phology (Fig. 1). Although they frequently turn up in biota surveys and other investigations, there are few il- Web-Based Illustrated Key lustrated references or other sources that can be used to I created a key to the Japanese species of the tribe identify them, and identification has been difficult for Pilophorini which contains 17 species, and I prepared people who are not classification experts. For that reason, illustrations of useful characters to distinguish the spe- we prepared and made available an illustrated key, which cies, like as the arrangement of the scale-like setae. I graphically shows the characters used in identifying spe- combined these into an illustrated key of the tribe Pilo- cies. Thereby, we provided a means of easily identifying phorini (Fig. 3) and made it publicly available on the these insects. website (http://www.niaes.affrc.go.jp/inventry/insect/ illust_ keys/pilophorini/key_pilophorini_e01.html). On the left appears the insect’s entire body with arrows showing which part of the body is represented by enlarged images on the right. Users look at the indicated characters and choose which of two options matches the specimen they are trying to identify. Repeating this action leads them to the right species. We have also prepared an Eng- lish-language version of this page. Presently, it is just a key for identifying species, but there are plans to enhance it with explanations and images of each species. (Y. Nakatani)

Fig. 1 Three species in the genus Pilophorus Hahn. A: P. setulosus Horváth, B: P. e r r a t i c u s Linna- vuori, C: P. okamotoi Miyamoto & Lee.

Fig. 2 Left: Pilophorus typicus adult (arrow shows a row of silvery scale-like setae). Right: SEM image of silvery scale-like setae.

Fig. 3 Screen shot of tribe Pilophorini illustrated key. Users choose which of two characters shown side by side matches their species and proceed to the next branching point. Repeating this ultimately leads to one species.

23 Highlights in 2006

erated as a regional network in conjunction with existing Major Symposia and Seminars international databases on IAS. Since the introduction of APASD in 2003, aspects of 1. International Workshop on Development the APASD system have been improved and data input of Database (APASD) for Biological Inva- has continued. A follow-up workshop held in Taichung, sion Taiwan, in 2004, aimed to establish a constructive link- age/cooperation mechanism to further build up the data- The workshop was held from 18 to 22 September base. This 2006 workshop was designed as a follow-up 2006 at Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Sub- activity to the previous two seminars; the intention was stances Research Institute (TACTRI), Taichung, Taiwan, to update the APASD system to make it more functional Republic of China (ROC), sponsored by Food and Fer- and user-friendly. This is in line with FFTC’s commit- tilizer Technology Center (FFTC), for the Asian and Pa- ment, in collaboration with NIAES, to continue to sup- cific Region, National Institute for Agro-Environmental port the development of the APASD and to organize re- Sciences (NIAES), Japan, Bureau of Animal and Plant lated programs such as training workshops to improve Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), TACTRI, the functionality of the system for wider use among Council of Agriculture, ROC. Countries represented countries in the region. were Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Tai- During the 2-day paper presentation and discussion, wan, Thailand, and Vietnam. 15 speakers representing seven countries in Asia pre- Introductions of invasive alien species (IAS) to the sented a total of two keynote speeches, three resource Asia–Pacific region have recently increased along with papers, two database demonstrations/practical exercises, increases in global trade and human travel. Many plants, six country reports, and two institutional presentations. animals, and microbes have invaded countries worldwide, They shared and exchanged information, knowledge, and causing great economic damage and having biosafety experiences on the status of the development of the and ecological impacts. Hence, IAS have become an APASD, and they discussed the critical issues concern- important global concern, and the need to exchange re- ing IAS in each country, for the following objectives, to search and monitoring information among countries in determine the status of development of the APASD to- order to prevent the spread and damage these species ward enhancing the sharing of recent information on IAS cause has become vital and more urgent than ever. among countries in the region; to deliberate on the criti- Toward this end, the Asian-Pacific Alien Species cal issues concerning alien invasive species, with re- Database (APASD, http://apasd-niaes.dc.affrc.go.jp/) was gional scientists providing data and confirming the spe- introduced by NIAES at an international seminar held in cies to be inputted to the database; to establish a coop- Tsukuba, Japan, in 2003 as a means of facilitating the erative mechanism to further solidify the building-up of accumulation and searching of data on IAS. This data- the database; and to discuss and exchange research and base seeks to enable the sharing of recent information on monitoring information on IAS and the updating of the invasive alien species among countries in the Asia Pa- APASD system to make it more functional and cific region, and to maximize its value it needs to be op- user-friendly. (K. Hirai)

Photo taken in front of TACTRI, 2006

2. Korea–Japan Joint International Sympo- Dr. Kim explained the current status of non-point sium: Nitrogen Behavior and its Effective sources and the excess amount of nutrients in Korea, Management in Agro-Ecosystems systems for the management of water quality, the current status of water quality monitoring, and the reduction in Since FY 2003 NIAES has been running a research nitrogen and phosphorus loads by such measures as the project on “Water quality conservation in agro-ecosystems prevention of soil erosion. Dr. Kumazawa then provided and assessment of risk to the environment”. This project information on an extensive range of subjects, including is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding the current status of nitrate pollution in the groundwater forged with the National Institute of Agricultural Science of Japan, research on the sources of nitrate in groundwa- and Technology (NIAST) of the Republic of Korea. On ter, the environmental impact of livestock excreta and 21 September 2006, the Korea–Japan Joint International other organic wastes, the nitrogen balance in arable lands, Symposium, relevant to the above-mentioned project, and environmentally-friendly agriculture with the cycli- was held at the International Technical Cooperation cal use of nitrogen in Japan. Center of the Rural Development Administration, in 2) General lectures Suwon, Korea. Dr. Y. Lee explained the history of nutrient manage- With the ultimate aim of preventing environmental ment in Korean agriculture and the current status of nu- pollution of agro-ecosystems by nitrogen loads attribut- trient management, and then asked “Who has responsi- able to agricultural activity, participants shared informa- bility for the problem of livestock excreta?” Professor tion on case studies of technological and political plan- Zhang reported that the load on the environment can be ning in Japan, Korea, China, the United States, and the mitigated by integrated nutrient management based on Netherlands. It was clarified that underground and sur- the diagnosis of nutritional needs in crops. Professor face waters are being polluted by the excessive applica- Motavalli showed how to improve nitrogen management tion of nitrogen fertilizers and the disposal of livestock practices related to fertilizers and manure in the grain excreta onto agricultural lands. Quantitative evaluation belt of the United States; he proposed new ways of re- of nutrients that flow out from non-point sources is ducing the influence of these substances on the environ- needed to prepare for their effective management. ment. Dr. Schoumans explained that the outflow of phos- Nine speakers gave presentations on the following phorus is becoming more important in the Netherlands topics: 1) Keynote lecture: “Status of nitrogen pollution than is indicated in the “Nitrates Directive” and “Water in agro-ecosystems in Korea” (C-H Kim, NIAST, Ko- Framework Directive”, which are common policies in rea); 2) Keynote lecture: “Nitrogen cycling and envi- the EU. Dr. Oh showed how to predict the leaching of ronmental conservation agriculture in Japan” (K. Kuma- soil nutrients from the results of soil column experiments, zawa, Japan); 3) “Nitrogen management in Korean agri- and Dr. Kohyama showed how to evaluate nitrogen pol- culture” (Y. Lee, NIAST, Korea); 4) “Integrated nutrient lution risk in rivers from mesh data on agricultural statis- management in two cropping systems in China” (F-S tics. Finally, Dr. D-B. Lee reported that the nitrogen Zhang, China Agricultural University, China); 5) “Envi- loads generated by urban living are the main sources of ronmental issues related to nitrogen management prac- pollution in the Saemangeum Basin. tices in the United States” (P. P. Motavalli, University of 3) General discussion: Missouri, USA); 6) “Nutrient management and water At the opening of the general discussion, Dr. quality protection in EU countries” (O. F. Schoumans, Ki-Cheol Eom, Chairman of the general discussion, Alterra, the Netherlands); 7) “Prediction of soil nutrient asked “Who has responsibility for the problem of live- outflow to groundwater by soil water and electrical con- stock excreta?” in response to the lecture by Dr. Y. Lee. ductivity sensing” (D-S Oh, NIAST, Korea); 8) “As- This question sparked an active discussion on 1) the im- sessment of nitrogen pollution risk in rivers by using portance of farm practices, 2) the importance of regional mesh data from agricultural Statistics” (K. Kohyama, differences in livestock excreta, 3) support measures and NIAES, Japan); and 9) “Influence of land use on nitro- stewardship responsibility, 4) the restriction of manure gen load to the Saemangeum Basin” (D-B. Lee, NIAST, application on the basis of measurements of phosphorus Korea). outflow, and 5) the problem of the offensive odors emitted by such materials as barnyard manure. In our country, The lectures and the general discussion were summa- the problem of livestock excreta is still unsolved despite rized as follows: the enforcement of the so-called “Livestock Excreta 1) Keynote lectures Legislation”, and there is a need to evaluate the negative

25 Highlights in 2006 environmental effects of organic matter application at a “Water quality changes caused by increasing food de- catchment scale. (K. Sugahara) mand in East Asia”(Junko Shindo, Senior Researcher, Carbon and Nutrient Cycles Division), and “How will

increased atmospheric CO2 and global warming affect 3. Third Meeting for the Presentation of paddy rice growth and yield?”(Toshihiro Hasegawa, NIAES Research Topics Senior Researcher, Agro-Meteorology Division). Also, Ichiro Taniyama, Director of the Natural Resources In- The Third Meeting for the Presentation of NIAES ventory Center, gave a speech entitled “Disseminating Research Topics, subtitled “Thinking about Agriculture information surrounding the agricultural environment”. and the Environment”, was held on 28 September 2006 He talked about the data and resources that the Natural at the Shinjuku Meiji Yasuda Seimei Hall in Tokyo. NI- Resources Inventory Center possesses, and their usage. AES became an independent administrative institution in At the question-and-answer session after these pres- April 2001, and since that time we have been carrying entations, there were discussions about water manage- out research activity with continuous 5-year mid-term ment in abandoned paddy fields, the possibility of con- plans. We held a research presentation meeting twice sidering international trade in food for future water qual- during the first 5-year plan period, in 2002 and 2004. ity prediction models, and the level of CO2 at which rice Because the first 5-year mid-term plan ended in March yield is affected. All topics addressed by lecturers at the 2006, we held a third meeting to introduce oral and meeting dealt with historical time and space and high- poster presentations on the research results from this first lighted the importance of these concepts. period. The meeting was attended by a total of 221 par- Poster presentations on 17 research topics were dis- ticipants, including 156 from government agencies, pri- played before the lectures and during the break, and there vate companies, universities, public agencies and corpo- were active discussions and exchanges of opinions rations, and 65 from NIAES. among the researchers and participants. The meeting opened with speeches by Yohei Sato, A questionnaire on this meeting gathered the impres- President of NIAES, and Kenji Takahashi, Director Gen- sions and opinions of 90 participants. Most of the com- eral of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research ments were positive: “Topics were explained intelligi- Council, and a special lecture, entitled “Impact of agri- bly”, and “It was good that the meeting was held in To- culture on the Earth’s environment from the viewpoint of kyo”. In terms of the research topics, lectures, and poster environmental history”, by Hiroyuki Ishi, a Professor at presentations, many participants were interested in Hokkaido University. The following four research topics global warming and food production; this reflects the from the first plan period, and the directions of research social interests of today’s society. However, there were for the second plan period, were then presented in: also negative comments such as, “Should pursue broader “Seeking agriculture that fosters rich biota”(Shori Ya- perspectives (in order to solve environmental problems)” mamoto, Senior Researcher, Biodiversity Division), and “Explanations insufficient for the general public”. (T. “Pesticides in the atmosphere: diffusion and control” Imagawa) (Yasuhiro Yogo, Director of Organochemicals Division),

Professor Hiroyuki Ishi of Hokkaido University, delivering the special lecture

4. NIAES International Symposium 2006, • Effect of global warming on invasion of alien plants “Evaluation and Effective Use of Envi- in Asia (R.M. Kathiresan, Annamlai University, In- ronmental Resources for Sustainable Ag- dia) riculture in Monsoon Asia—Toward In- Dr. Yohei Sato, President of NIAES, presented an ternational Research Collaboration” overview in which he pointed out that Asian countries are blessed with the food production platform of paddy The NIAES International Symposium, entitled “Evalua- rice agriculture, but that they are facing potential tion and Effective Use of Environmental Resources for agro-ecosystem collapse because of such events as Sustainable Agriculture in Monsoon Asia—Toward In- global warming, urbanization, pollution by hazardous ternational Research Collaboration”, was held on 12 to chemicals, and invasion by alien species. He also em- 14 December 2006 in Epochal Tsukuba, with the support phasized the need for an international research network of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research on agro-environmental issues throughout monsoon Asia. Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Professor Tanaka, Dr. Zeigler, and Professor Fukai over- Fisheries. The symposium aimed to give an overview of viewed the issue of international research collaboration various environmental problems in and around agro-eco- on the basis of their abundant experience, and discussed systems in the monsoon Asian region and to explore in- pathways for achieving international research collabora- ternational research collaboration to solve these tion. Specific agro-environmental issues were high- agro-environmental problems. lighted in the lectures that followed. Professor Hatano presented data on the emission of large amounts of ni- On the first day of the symposium, the six invited trogen to the environment through agricultural activities speakers gave excellent and informative lectures on and warned of the effect of this nitrogen on global agro-environmental research in monsoon Asia. The top- warming. Professor Kathiresan overviewed the issue of ics were: invasion of monsoon Asian countries by alien plant spe- • Agro-environmental research and development of cies and suggested how global warming is accelerating consortium in monsoon Asia (Yohei Sato, NIAES, this invasion. Japan) • Environment and sustainable agriculture in monsoon On days 2 and 3 of the symposium the following four Asia (Koji Tanaka, Kyoto University, Japan) workshops were held, and the current status of research • Rice research for poverty alleviation and environ- and future research strategies were discussed. mental sustainability in Asia (Robert S. Zeigler, In- • Workshop 1: Invasive Alien Plants in Asia: Status ternational Rice Research Institute, Philippines) and Control • Rice production in Southeast Asia for sustainable This session was organized by Dr. Y. Fujii of NIAES. agriculture and environment—international col- Ten speakers invited from Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, laboration for rice technology development (Shu Vietnam, and Japan revealed the current status of alien Fukai, University of Queensland, Australia) plant invasion and its control. In a general discussion, • Impact of nitrogen cycling on global warming in Professor J. Silander (University of Connecticut, USA) agro-ecosystems of East Asia (Ryusuke Hatano, and Professor T. Yahara (Kyushu University, Japan) gave Hokkaido University, Japan) valuable comments.

27 Highlights in 2006

• Workshop 2: Monsoon Asia Agricultural Green- (1) Third Public Seminar: Held at Okayama University house Gas Emission Studies in Okayama City on 5 August 2006. There were 168 This workshop, organized by Dr. K. Yagi of NIAES, participants. Talks were as follows. was the second workshop for Monsoon Asia Agricultural 1) On the purposes of the Invasive Alien Species Greenhouse Gas Emission Studies (MAGE); the first Act and our National Project workshop was held in Tsukuba in March 2006 (see An- 2) Botanical gardens and the "Invasive Alien Spe- nual Report 2006, pp. 12–13). Eight speakers invited cies Act" from China, Thailand, India, the Philippines, and Japan 3) On Azolla problems reported on the current status of greenhouse gas emis- 4) Learning from the aquatic aliene plant out- sions in agriculture and discussed ways of collaborating breaks in water systems of southern Okayama to reduce these emissions. Prefecture • Workshop 3: Prediction of Rice Production Varia- 5) Attempts to develop technologies to control the tion in East and Southeast Asia under Global alien plant weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis cur- Warming vula) This workshop was organized by Dr. H. Toritani of 6) Alien plants that are strongly allelopathic, and NIAES. Fourteen speakers invited from China, Vietnam, containing toxic substances Thailand, and Japan reported on their current achieve- 7) Advantages and problems of alien plants ments, mainly from the viewpoint of how global warming and a rise in CO2 levels will affect rice production in The seminar concluded with free discussion on the Asia and how we can predict these effects. In the general subject “How should we deal with alien plants?” There discussion, Professor K. Kobayashi (University of Tokyo, were opinions and questions from participants, and dis- Japan) gave critical comments based upon his studies cussion. using FACE (free-air CO2 enrichment). • Workshop 4: Ecological Risk Assessment of Gene (2) Fourth Public Seminar: Held in Fukuoka City on 21 Flow from Genetically Modified (GM) Crops October 2006. There were 77 participants. The fol- Eight speakers invited from China, the Philippines, lowing presentations were given. Korea, and Japan gave valuable reports on the ecological 1) Developing ways to scientifically assess the risk assessment of GM crops. Some speakers stressed risks of alien plants that GM crops are safe, whereas others emphasized the 2) What kind of invasive alien plants are currently difficulty of evaluating the risks posed by GM crops. The distributed in Japan? organizer of this workshop, Dr. K. Matsuo, emphasized 3) Alien plants that cause problems through strong the need for exchange of information, not only among allelopathy and toxicity scientists but also between scientists and the general 4) Soils preferred by alien and native plants public. 5) Investigation of the route of invasion by genetic approach, and shutting out further invasions At the end of the symposium, all participants agreed 6) Determining species from seeds: Building an to adopt the following Symposium Statement (see p.30). alien plant database (M. Saito) 7) Investigating the impacts on wild plants of the herbicides used to control alien plants 8) Developing technologies to control alien plants 5. Public Seminars on Alien Plants (Third now spreading throughout Japan through Sixth) (3) Fifth Public Seminar: Held at the Tokyo International Four public seminars, including international seminar Forum Hall on 10 December 2006 with the support at Tsukuba City, were held as outreach activities for of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries “Risk Assessment of Invasive Alien Plants and their and the Ministry of the Environment. There were 127 Control,” a project under the Special Coordination Funds participants. The following presentations were given. for Promoting Science and Technology - Research and 1) Background and purpose of this research Development Program for Resolving Critical Issues of 2) What kind of invasive alien plants are currently the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and spreading in Japan? Technology. These four events had a total of 642 partici- 3) Soils preferred by alien and native plants pants. 4) Invasive alien plants that cause problems

through strong allelopathy and toxicity in Japan In tandem with the worldwide expansion of freight 5) Developing the scientific risks assessments for and passenger traffic, there is a considerable increase in invasive alien plants the economic and ecological damage caused by invasive 6) Invasive alien plants in tropical Asia: The case alien plants in the Asia-Pacific region. Presentations of Thailand were given on the policy measures and situation relating 7) The impacts of alien plant invasions on the bio- to alien species in Japan, and on the achievements of diversity of national parks in Vietnam research in the project “Risk Assessment of Invasive 8) Investigating the invasion routes of alien plants Alien Plants and their Control” at this workshop. To on the genetic level, and shutting out further solve these problems, which are shared by Asian coun- invasions tries, we discussed sharing information and setting up an 9) Determining species from seeds: Building an international network. Dr. Yohei Sato, President of alien plant database NIAES, proposed creating the Monsoon Asia Agro-Envi- 10) Investigating the impacts on wild plants of the ronmental Research Consortium (MARCO). herbicides used to control alien plants This Sixth Public Seminar invited researchers the 11) Development of technologies for alien plant five countries that compose the Monsoon Asia program control for the purpose of recovering plant di- (China, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam). We versity discussed on the invasion of alien plants, their damage, and control, which enabled participants to exchange opinions on specific types of weed damage and control methods. Japanese participants sought much information and asked many questions about control and future invasions, and there was enthusiastic debate. (Y. Fujii)

Photo 1 Fifth Public Seminar, 10 December 2006, Tokyo

(4) Sixth Public Seminar (International Seminar): Held at the Tsukuba International Conference Hall (Tsukuba City) on 12 through 15 December 2006. This event was an international workshop with the support of Photo 2 Sixth Public Seminar (International Semi- the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sci- nar): 12 through 15 December 2006, Tsu- kuba ences (NIAES). There were 270 participants.

29 Highlights in 2006

2. Conclusion of Agreement for Education Research Collaborations and Research between NIAES and the University of Tokyo 1. Establishment of the Research Consor- tium, MARCO NIAES and Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo (UT), concluded an The Monsoon Asia Agro-Environmental Research agreement for improved education of graduate students Consortium (MARCO) was established on 14 December and the support of their advanced research. Dr. Yohei 2006 by the adoption of the below-mentioned statement Sato, President of NIAES, and Professor Hiroshi Komi- at the NIAES International Symposium “Evaluation and yama, President of UT, as well as Professor Katsumi Effective Use of Environmental Resources for Sustain- Aida, Dean of the Graduate School of UT, executed the able Agriculture in Monsoon Asia—Toward International agreement on 1 April 2006. Under this agreement, NI- Research Collaboration” held from 12 to 14 December AES researchers participate in the education of graduate 2006 at Tsukuba International Congress Center. students at a newly established cooperative laboratory, NIAES will pursue the following activities for the the “Ecological Safety Laboratory”. Education using purpose of conducting research under the MARCO: NIAES’s accumulated research resources will contribute (1) to provide venues regularly for events such as inter- toward raising young talent people who will be able to national symposia for exchanging research information, work in agro-environmental research in future. (2) to provide a website as a venue for exchanging consortium information, and (3) to help train the people who 3. Conclusion of Cooperative Agreement will carry on activities under the consortium. between NIAES and Toyohashi Univer- sity of Technology Symposium Statement: To Further Advance Agro-Environmental Research in Monsoon Asia NIAES and Toyohashi University of Technology The 276 participants from 15 countries in the inter- (TUT) concluded a cooperative agreement for the pro- national symposium “Evaluation and Effective Use of motion of research on science and technology. Dr. Yohei Environmental Resources for Sustainable Agriculture in Sato, President of NIAES, and Professor Tatau Nishinaga, Monsoon Asia—Toward International Research Col- President of TUT, executed the agreement at NIAES on laboration”, hosted by the National Institute for 21 September 2006. The cooperation includes exchange Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES) and supported of scientists, exchange of research and technical infor- by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research mation, and research cooperation. This cooperation be- Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and tween agriculture and technology will lead to new de- Fisheries, hereby confirm and agree upon the following velopments in agro-environmental sciences. points by consensus. 1. In monsoon Asia it is urgent that we solve environmental problems affecting agriculture in order to achieve sustainable development while maintaining a sound agro-ecosystem. 2. Solving these problems requires that researchers, administrative authorities, research institutes, and other entities connected with agriculture and the environment in the countries of this region make a concerted effort under close collaboration. 3. For that purpose, we shall create the Monsoon Asia Agro-Environmental Research Consortium, which transcends the boundaries of specialization and countries, and conduct agro-environmental re- Signing ceremony for the agreement between search through international collaboration under NIAES and TUT the consortium.

4. Conclusion of MOU between NIAES and Landcare Research New Zealand Limited

NIAES and Landcare Research New Zealand Lim- ited, New Zealand, concluded a Memorandum of Under- standing (MOU) concerning scientific and technical cooperation on 17 November 2006. NIAES and Landcare Research agreed to collaborate on some projects related to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems and reduction of the impacts of invasive species in natural and agricultural environments. The scope of activities under this MOU includes exchange of scientists, ex- Signatures on the MOU between NIAES and change of technical information and cooperative re- Landcare Research search.

31 Highlights in 2006

2. Summer Science Camp 2006 Visitors Science Camp 2006, organized by the Japan Science 1. Open House Day 2006 Foundation (JSF), was held at various institutes and universities. This program aims to give an excellent oppor- The Institute opened its doors to the public on 19 tunity for high school students to experience advanced April during Science and Technology Week 2006. Visi- science and technology and expand their interest in sci- tors including students and various professionals—more ences. than 1200 in total. They studied displays on research Summer Science Camp 2006 at NIAES took place topics, watched specimens in the exhibition rooms of the from 9 to 11 August 2006, with 12 high school students Natural Resources Inventory, attended mini lectures, from all areas of Japan. Every student participated in one tried hands-on experiments, and participated in vegetable of the three courses: a) use of mass spectrometry for the picking in the field. All events were arranged under the ultramicroanalysis of environmental pollutants, b) the general theme “Let’s hand over sound farmland and en- study of allelopathy (chemical interactions between vironment to future generations.” (Photos 1, 2) plants), and c) the study of the behavior of wild animals with a GPS device. (Photos 3, 4, 5)

Photo 1 Visitors looking at familiar wildflowers Photo 3 Learning how calculate the concentration of pollutants

Photo 2 Explanation of greenhouse gas emissions from farmland Photo 4 Lecture on the application of allelopathy

Photo 5 Walking around the field with a GPS recorder

Asia region is a worthwhile move. Advisory Council 2006 6) The results of a number of studies have been useful The Advisory Council 2006 met on 26 April 2007 at for the development of new methods applicable for NIAES to provide outside opinions and recommenda- farms. Examples are “Uptake of dieldrin and endrin tions on the management of NIAES. The members of the from soils by zucchini” and “Inhibitory effects of council are external experts and include a professor, a rootstocks on Cd uptake by eggplant.” consumer representative, and the directors of other independent administrative institutions (see Appendix). 7) It is an important task for NIAES to develop standard The following comments were made: international methods for the risk assessment of ecological systems. 1) To optimize research productivity at NIAES it is desirable to establish a new system that can evaluate the 8) The establishment of methods of analyzing soil bacte- yearly achievements of researchers and reflect the ria by PCR-DGGE is a valuable step. evaluations in their working conditions. It is also desirable to evaluate the productivity of administrative 9) We need to promote research on the modes of action staff. of allelochemicals and search for ones that are new to science. 2) NIAES needs to follow up on its own scientific results and promote technology transfer to society. 10) Long-term research is significant in the environmental monitoring of greenhouse gas fluxes and radionu- 3) NIAES should be praised for having established a clides and in the accumulation of agro-environmental human resources development program, which will resources. enhance the research ability of the institute in the future. 11) NIAES activities, such as open seminars held in regional areas of Japan and a meeting with an NPO to 4) Collaboration with non-government research organi- discuss environmental issues, make important social zations or the private sector should be promoted to contributions. the same extent as that with educational and other official research organizations. 12) Contributions to international organizations such as IPCC are remarkable accomplishments. 5) The establishment of the Monsoon Asia Agro-Environmental Research Consortium (MARCO) for the promotion of 13) We need to promote our activities in giving techno- collaborative study among countries in the monsoon logical assistance to developing countries.

33 Highlights in 2006

2. The Young Scientists’ Prize: Commenda- Academic Prizes and Awards tion for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, 1. CIGR Merit Award Science, and Technology, 2006

Research on estimate of N2O emission factors and

Dr. Yohei Sato, President of NIAES, won the 2006 investigation on mitigation options for N2O emissions CIGR Merit Award. This award is aimed at those mem- from agricultural fields bers who have performed remarkable work for CIGR. CIGR (Commission Internationale du Génie Ru- The Minister of Education, Cul- ral—the International Commission of Agricultural Engi- ture, Sports, Science, and Technol- neering) was set up by a constituent assembly on the ogy presented the Young Scientists’ occasion of the first International Congress of Agricul- Prize to Dr. Hiroko Akiyama for her tural Engineering, held in Liège, Belgium, in 1930. It is outstanding research on estimate of an international, non-governmental, non-profit organiza- nitrous oxide (N2O) emission factors tion that regroups, as a networking system, regional and and investigation on mitigation op- national societies of agricultural engineering as well as tions for N2O emissions from agricultural fields. private and public companies and individuals all over the N2O is a major greenhouse gas, and the IPCC (Inter- world. governmental Panel on Climate Change) has estimated The main aims of CIGR are to stimulate the devel- that agricultural fields account for 24% of the world’s opment of science and technology in the field of agricul- N2O emissions. Therefore, intensive research on the tural engineering; to encourage education, training and more accurate estimation of N2O emissions from agri- mobility of young professionals; to encourage interna- cultural fields and the development of mitigation options tional mobility; to facilitate the exchange of research is being conducted worldwide. results and technology; and to represent the profession at By systematic review and analysis of published pa- a worldwide level among multi-lateral activities. pers, Dr. Akiyama and her colleagues revealed that the

As the Chairperson of the Board of Section I of world average fertilizer-induced N2O emission factor for CIGR, a technical section that deals with Land and Water rice paddies was 0.31% of applied nitrogen. This emis- Engineering, Dr. Sato has contributed his time and en- sion factor was much lower than the previous default ergy to organizing Inter-Regional Conferences on the value of 1.25% given in the IPCC Guidelines for Na- Environment and Water in several countries and regions tional Greenhouse Gas Inventories (IPCC 1997, 2000). and has endeavored to stimulate and promote the In 2006 the default value of the N2O emission factor in multi-lateral activities of Section I, as well as confer- the IPCC guidelines was revised in accordance with the ences and workshops. research conducted by Dr. Akiyama and her colleagues The commendation ceremony was held at the Uni- (IPCC 2007). versity Bonn, Germany, on 5 September 2006 on the Furthermore, Dr. Akiyama and her colleagues devel- occasion of the XVI CIGR World Congress. Dr. Sato was oped an automated N2O monitoring system. Using the also elected one of the Honorary Vice Presidents at the system, they found that the use of coated nitrate fertilizer, General Assembly of the Congress. rather than conventional uncoated one, was effective in

mitigating N2O emissions from Andosols, oxic volcanic soils that cover about 50% of Japanese upland fields. Moreover, they showed that organic fertilizer applica-

tions are important sources of N2O emission; they esti-

mated that the total amount of N2O emissions resulting from the application of organic fertilizer to the upland fields of Japan is similar to that from chemical fertilizer application. Dr. Akiyama’s research has contributed to the accu-

rate estimation of N2O emissions from agricultural fields and the mitigation of these emissions.

References Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

(1997), Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National gradually decreased when come to the vegetative Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Reference Manual, vol 3. stage, but increased again during productive period. Bracknell, UK. In the early growth stage of plants, the isomer pro- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) files of dioxins were similar to those in soil. (2000), Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty However, the profiles were predominantly changed Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. to resemble those in the atmospheric gas phase as Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Hayama, the crop grew. Japan. 2. The transition route of dioxins in corn is clarified. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Corn was grown in two growth chambers with two (2006), 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Green- different soils, which contaminated with dioxins at house Gas Inventories, Prepared by the National two different concentrations and isomer profiles. Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, Eggleston Results clearly proved that the dioxins in corn are H.S., Buendia L., Miwa K., Ngara T. and Tanabe K. derived from the atmospheric gas phase, and did not (eds). Published: IGES, Japan. come from the absorption from soil by roots. 3. The correlation between the period of exposure to the atmospheric dioxins and their concentration in 3. The Japanese Society of Grassland Sci- forage was examined in order to clarify either diox- ence Encouragement Prize (Mitsui Prize) ins can be accumulated in forage. Results showed The fate of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, that the accumulation of dioxins in forage did not dibenzofurans and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls occurred. Therefore, it would be difficult to decrease (dioxins) in crop plants the level of dioxins contamination in forage through the adjustment of the cultivation period. On 25th March 2007, the Japanese Society of Grassland Science (JSGS) These studies indicated that, the major transition awarded its Encouragement Prize route of dioxins to crop plants is through the atmospheric (Mitsui Prize) for FY 2007 to Dr. gas phase. In this contact, Dr. Uegaki proposed that the Ryuichi Uegaki. The prize is awarded effective countermeasure to the transition could be made to young JSGS members aged of 37 through the improvement and good maintenance of the or less whom their research progress atmospheric environment. The “Law Concerning Special shows future promise. The outlines of study undertaken Measures Against Dioxins” was promulgated in Japan by Dr. Uegaki are as follows. since July 1999. The law regulates emission and effluent, and it mandates the monitoring and surveillance of diox- 1. Changes of dioxins levels in crop plants during ins in the atmosphere. Recently, the concentration of growth stage were investigated. Results indicated dioxins in the atmosphere has been decreased. Therefore, that, the dioxins concentrations of crop plants were it can be expected that the concentration of dioxins in relatively high during the early growth stage, then, crop plants will also decreased.

35 New Research Departments and Centers

An Introduction to the New Organization

The National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sci- organization as diagrammed in the figure. The basic sub- ences (NIAES) has come to an important juncture this divisions of the research organization were enlarged into year because five years have passed since it changed research divisions and a center that bring together re- from a national research institute to an independent ad- searchers in the same area of specialization, thereby re- ministrative institution in April 2001. Under the law, sulting in a non-hierarchical organizational structure. independent administrative institutions are required to Independent of the research organization, we also estab- develop medium-term plans to achieve the medium-term lished a “research project” (RP) for each research task targets assigned to them and to review those plans every for the purpose of carrying out the research tasks under five years. In March 2006 NIAES’s first medium-term the phase II medium-term plan. For each RP we bring target period (phase I) ended, and we began phase II re- together the personnel needed for accomplishing the task search to achieve our new five-year medium-term plan from the multiple research divisions and the center, and (April 2006 – March 2011). For that purpose NIAES those personnel then partner on the research to achieve decided to review its research organization of the first their common goal. The research divisions and the center five years in order to pursue its mission in a prioritized are to support RP activities as they carry out cutting-edge and efficient manner. seed research that anticipates future developments and The hierarchically structured research organization of work toward nurturing the capabilities that a group of departments, groups, and units that was used prior to experts should have. In other words, in phase II NIAES phase I has a long history not only here but also at many will operate as a matrix whose rows are the research or- research institutes of the Ministry of Agriculture, For- ganization of research divisions and the center, and estry and Fisheries. In these days when research was whose columns are the RPs, or groups of researchers conducted on the individual and unit level, this with common purposes. NIAES also created the posi- multi-hierarchy research organization or small research tions of principal research director and principal research subdivisions, such as the unit, functioned effectively. But coordinator to coordinate each research area and to take with the great changes in the circumstances surrounding charge of tasks including strategy development, effi- science and technology at present, as well as the in- ciency improvement, international relations, running RPs, creasing trend toward the fusion and strategic orientation and public communication, while the institute is operated of research, and in conjunction with the collaboration of flexibly under the leadership of the president. In phase I researchers in many fields and the increase in research research, support involved a number of assistant manag- activities such as project research with clearly defined ers dividing up minutely categorized duties under a objectives, the down side of “compartmentalized or- group system, while the new system makes it possible to ganizations” and “inter-unit barriers” has become pro- speed up the performance of administrative duties and to nounced and hampered the building of research systems even out such duties between busy and inactive periods which transcend disciplines. by flexibly performing these tasks with the cooperation In 2004–2005, NIAES launched the “Research Sys- of the entire group under the group leader. We have also tem Discussion Committee” to consider the phase II sys- created an Audit office to enhance the internal auditing tem for conducting research. After thoroughgoing dis- system including accounting auditing and operational cussions on the phase II organization, the committee auditing, and to provide for the institute’s overall legal decided that phase II would conduct research under the compliance.

36 RReseaesearrcchh 20062006

Research Overview in 2006 Research Organization

President

Vice President Auditors

Principal Research Director

Research Planning Office Research Coordination Office Public Relations and Information Office Experimental Farm Management Division Coordinator for Research Information Systems

Principal Administrative Director

Administrative Services Office Accounting Office

Audit Office

（Research Divisions） Agro-Meteorology Division Carbon and Nutrient Cycles Division Soil Environment Division Organochemicals Division Biodiversity Division Environmental Biofunction Division Ecosystem Informatics Division

(Research Projects) z Risk Assessment of Organic Chemicals z Risk Management of Heavy Metals z Ecological Impact Assessment of Invasive Alien Species z Ecological Impact Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms z Biodiversity in Paddy Fields z Biodiversity in Upland Soils z Ecological Functions of Semiochemicals z Factors Affecting Crop Production Changes z Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions z Carbon and Nitrogen Budget in Regional Scale z Environmental Risk Assessment of Nutrients z Global Warming Monitoring z Spatial Information in Agriculture z Agro-Environmental Risk Indicators z Classification and Information of Environmental Resources

Principal Research Coordinators

37 Research Overview in 2006

Summary of NIAES Research Projects

The National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sci- Summary for 2006 ences emphasizes the following research themes in three In the area of pesticides and other organic chemicals, research fields during the new medium-term research we developed a model to predict the concentrations of period (2006 to 2010) as it provides for the specialization not only the parent compounds of rice field pesticides, and prioritization of basic studies and research meant to but also their metabolites. We found that the rate at assure the security of agricultural production environ- which chlorinated organic pesticides disappear from the ments. soil depends on Kow, the octanol/water partition coefficient indicating a substance’s hydrophobicity, and on soil A. Assessing and managing agro-environmental carbon content. Additionally, researchers chronologically risks analyzed and predicted the distribution of these pesti- B. Elucidating and managing the structure and cides in Japanese farmland. The tendency of sensitivity function of agro-ecosystems to maintain and to various insecticides was determined with the caddisfly enhance the function of natural circulation (Cheumatopsyche brevilineata) as an indicator organism, C. Basic study to support elucidation of the and it was found that, depending on pesticides, sensitiv- agro-ecosystems functionality ity was far different from that of the water flea, which is the OECD indicator organism. A. Assessing and managing agro-environmental risks Our laboratory was first in the world to successfully 1) Development of risk management technology for isolate and identify a bacterium (Nocardioides sp. hazardous chemical substances in agro-ecosystems PD653) that can aerobically mineralize hexachloroben- (1) Development of assessment methodology and man- zene (HCB). To investigate the remediation effect of a agement technology for agro-environmental risks high-absorption plant (zucchini) on dieldrin-contaminated by hazardous chemical substances soil, pot experiments were conducted, and it was found Amid rising concerns about the burdens of chemicals that in soil where zucchini had been grown, young cu- from farmland and other non-point sources spreading cumber plants absorbed far less dieldrin than in the soil outside of agro-ecosystems, and about the diffusion of where zucchini had not been grown. such pollutants over wide areas, researchers are faced In situ investigations of cadmium-contaminated soil with the challenge of developing methods to assess the confirmed that the cadmium removal rate of chemical risk of ecosystem disruption by chemicals and other pol- washing is higher if rice paddy water is deep. A search lutants, and technologies to prevent their diffusion over for cultivars with low cadmium absorption determined wide areas. For that reason, we will develop methods to that, in the case of eggplant, turkey berry (Solanum tor- assess the ecological risk of hazardous chemicals and vum) rootstock is capable of holding the cadmium con- technologies to manage ecological risks. centration in eggplant fruit down to about 30% of that resulting with other rootstocks. Research Plan for 2006–2010 To reduce the risk of pollution by chemicals and sub- 2) Development of risk management technology for stances in agricultural environments, such as cad- invasive alien species and genetically modified or- mium, arsenic, radioactive materials, and persistent ganisms in agro-ecosystems organic pollutants (POPs) including drin family pes- (1) Assessment of ecological impact and development ticides, we will elucidate their dynamics and develop of risk management technology for invasive alien technologies to reduce their risks. For pesticides and species and genetically modified organisms other organic chemicals, this will involve developing Amid increasing concerns about the escape of alien spe- models to predict behavior in the environment, and cies (those that invaded and those introduced) and GM also developing environmental risk assessment meth- organisms, and their impacts on ecosystems, we are ods using means including exposure experiments faced with the challenge of developing technologies to with aquatic arthropods and other organisms. Also, assess the risk of ecosystem disruption by the organisms we will develop technologies for remediating soil and technologies to prevent them from diffusing over contaminated with hazardous chemicals by such wide areas. For that purpose, we will develop methods to means as chemical washing and bioremediation, as assess the ecological risks of alien species and GM or- well as technologies for using cultivars that have low ganisms, and technologies to manage their ecological absorption of these substances. risks.

Research Plan for 2006–2010 species, and between the invasive alien plant fungus To prevent the disruption of and damage to Phytophthora cinnamomi and closely related native spe- agro-ecosystems by alien species (those which in- cies. We studied the distribution in Lake Kasumigaura of vaded and those introduced), we will elucidate the the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), which was characteristics of the proliferation, allelopathy, and designated as an invasive alien species for its harmful other effects of alien species, and we will determine impact on the operation of water utilization facilities and the state of damage by alien species, and predict native ecosystems. Our investigation found the mussel their colonization and the diffusion of, and damage had expanded its distribution to about one-half of the caused by those organisms. We will also determine lake shore, and that it would have invaded the lake in where alien species originate, and estimate their 2004. probability of invasion. Further, by analyzing the To assess the ecosystem impacts of GM crops, we impacts of alien species such as alien natural enemy grew wild soybeans so they would entwine themselves insects on closely related native species from aspects around GM soybeans, and so that their full-flowering including competition and hybridization, we will period would coincide with that of GM soybeans, then assess the risks that alien species present to checked for hybridization between the GM and non-GM agro-ecosystems and will develop technologies us- plants. Out of 32,502 wild soybean seeds, we found one ing molecular markers and other means for the early that was a natural hybrid. The airborne pollen quantity detection and monitoring of alien species that are measured with an automatic pollen counter correlated hard to identify. To appropriately assess the impacts well with the count obtained with the standard pollen of GM organisms on ecosystems, we will develop counting method. Techniques tested for limiting hybridi- technologies that use DNA markers and other means zation were to put a water-spray curtain or sorghum to detect hybridization between GM crops and closely windbreak next to corn, which succeeded in decreasing related species, such as GM soybeans and wild soy- the hybridization rate 10 m from the pollen parents. beans, and shed light on the ecosystem impacts of hybridization. To provide for the coexistence of GM B. Elucidating and managing the structure and func- and non-GM crops, we will develop models to pre- tion of agro-ecosystems to maintain and enhance dict hybridization rates and technologies to suppress the function of natural circulation hybridization through cultivation methods that, for 1) Elucidation and evaluation of the structure and example, assure isolation distance. function of agro-ecosystems To provide for the appropriate management of Summary for 2006 agro-ecosystems and create sustainable production tech- Work proceeded on understanding the growth and nologies that make use of ecosystem functions, it is es- breeding characteristics of alien species and on deter- sential to build a store of knowledge on ecosystem mining the extent of actual damage; analyses were per- structure including the makeup and the temporal and formed on the relationship between the frequency of spatial distribution of the living and non-living resources alien plant appearance and the type of plant community. that constitute agro-ecosystems, as well as on ecosystem Results showed that it is easy for alien species to invade functions including the interrelationships between spe- plant communities that have been heavily disrupted by cies, the interrelationships between species and human activities. We also found that the star cucumber non-living resources, and material transport. We will (Sicyos angulatus) suppresses native species and that elucidate the ecological niches of species and interspe- parrotfeather (Myriophyllum brasiliense) and Nuttall’s cies relationships, and with developing objective meth- waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) suppress endangered spe- ods of assessing biodiversity. By these means, we shall cies; these plants heavily impact biodiversity. A few alien shed light on the structure of agro-ecosystems by under- plants produce large quantities of allelopathic substances, standing the composition, dynamics, and functions of and among those identified were mimosine from the lead species in agro-ecosystems. tree (Leucaena leucocephala), tartaric acid from Japa- nese laurel (Aucuba japonica), and rosmarinic acid from (1) Elucidation of synecological dynamics and biodi- comfrey (Symphytum officinale). versity in agro-ecosystems To understand the impacts of alien species on native Research Plan for 2006–2010 species, we worked on the development of DNA markers To conserve the biota that supports agriculture, and to distinguish between alien natural enemy insects that biota’s diversity, we will investigate the dynam- (Torymus sinensis and Chrysoperla carnea) and native ics of the plants, birds, insects, nematodes, microor-

39 Research Overview in 2006

ganisms, and other organisms living in and around Research Plan for 2006–2010 farmland, and then determine the impacts on the To make a contribution to maintaining and improv- makeup and diversity of these organisms caused by ing agro-ecosystem functions, we will elucidate the the tilling of farmland and the use of chemicals, by functions of substances including those involved in switching crops, fallowing, and changes in man- the interactions between organisms, such as the agement methods for peripheral vegetation and irri- physically active substances produced by Rosaceae gation ponds, and by changes in rice paddies and plants and others, and the semiochemicals involved their surrounding landscape structure. Using the re- in the propagation of Pyraustinae moths and other sults obtained, we will build a model to predict the insects, as well as substances that control the ex- dynamics of populations, such as those of indicator pression of genes in bacteria groups such as insects, occurring in conjunction with changes in Burkholderia sp. for decomposing chemicals such as agricultural activities, such as land use, and use the persistent aromatic chlorinated compounds. model to determine what factors stabilize populations. Summary for 2006 We worked on elucidating the semiochemicals in- Summary for 2006 volved in the interactions between organisms; quantita- To gain an understanding of how irrigation pond tively assessed the total activity of plant growth inhibi- management affects biodiversity, we typed ponds ac- tors that emerge from leaves and roots, such as 53 spe- cording to the makeup of dragonfly species living in cies of medicinal Rosaceae plants (dried leaves) and 65 each, and chose a dragonfly indicator species group for species of Rosaceae plants (fresh leaves); and found that each pond group. We also determined the main environ- plants such as Prunus zippeliana have strong allelopa- mental factors that influence the dragonfly species thetic active. Analysis and assessment of the constituent makeup from the correlations between environmental ratio of the Ostrinia zaguliaevi moth’s sex pheromone factors and the results of ranking all the ponds. found that there are large variations in the ratio within To discover how changes in the management meth- populations, and that this ratio is strongly controlled by ods for landscape structures and rice field periphery genes. vegetation influence biodiversity, we surveyed birds in Research on the NK8 strain Burkholderia sp., soil the monitoring zone of the “Rural Landscape Informa- bacteria, determined that the expression of two promot- tion System (RuLIS),” a rural landscape database that ers of the gene cluster related to the decomposition of our institution developed, found the land cover charac- persistent aromatic compounds is induced by different teristics that correlate strongly with the residence of cer- aromatic compounds for each promoter. Through our tain bird types, and built a model that estimates the research on fungi that break down biodegradable plastics, number of birds from the landscape structure. We also we isolated for the first time, from insects that eat lignin confirmed that RuLIS is effective for assessing the resi- and other substances, a true fungus that simultaneously dence potential of various species groups. A survey of decomposes the major biodegradable plastics PBS and vegetation along the edges of forests by valley rice fields PBSA. found that cutting the weeds around the rice fields was important for conserving plant community diversity. 2) Elucidation of mechanisms causing changes in To investigate the influence of farmland management agro-ecosystems and development of mitigation methods on soil organism dynamics without the use of technology against the changes culturing, we directly extracted DNA from soil, looked Amid rising expectations for ensuring security of land for the optimum analytical conditions (such as poly- and water resources, it has become difficult to maintain merase chain reaction (PCR) protocols and primers, and and manage farmland and other lands due to factors in- electorophoresis conditions) using PCR-DGGE (amplify cluding the dwindling vitality of domestic agriculture; with PCR, then analyze with denaturing gradient gel there are increasing worries about matters such as the electrophoresis (DGGE)) to efficiently detect soil biota, soundness of the water and material cycles. Internation- specifically bacteria and molds, and wrote the results ally, solutions are needed for worldwide food shortages into a manual as a standard procedure. and environmental problems, and in that context there are increasing concerns about widening weather-caused (2) Elucidation of semiochemicals affecting the func- disasters and the destabilization of agricultural production of agro-ecosystems tion due to global warming. Thus, it is necessary to build a store of knowledge about matters including the

interaction of agricultural activities with changes in (2) Elucidation of effects of agricultural activities on agro-ecosystems and the global environment. For this carbon and nutrient cycles reason, we seek to understand the interaction of climate Research Plan for 2006–2010 change and other global environmental change with To help solve regional and global environmental agro-ecosystems, and to determine how changes in agri- problems relating to greenhouse gases, nitrogen, and cultural activities affect the functions of natural cycles, other agricultural emissions, we will illuminate the and then develop technologies for appropriate manage- impacts of agricultural activities on material cycles ment. and find ways to mitigate environmental burdens. With respect to greenhouse gases, we will propose a (1) Impact assessment of global environmental changes technological system to efficiently mitigate envi- on agro-ecosystems and risk assessment of the ronmental burdens by quantitatively assessing the change on crop production efficacy of limiting the generation of greenhouse Research Plan for 2006–2010 gases with cultivation and soil management tech- To assess, on the scale of individual fields, the nologies. At the same time, by using soil-related da- changes in rice harvest yield caused by global tabases to examine and improve models that de- warming and weather extremes, we will develop a scribe soil carbon dynamics, we will predict changes comprehensive rice field ecosystem response model in soil carbon storage occurring in conjunction with that includes water, soil, rice cultivars, and cultiva- climate change and changes in the management of tion management conditions. We will also develop a Japan’s farmland soil. Nitrogen flow and stock in simple regional-scale yield model to predict the agro-ecosystem that result from food production, changes in rice yield mainly in Japan and other imports, exports, and other factors will be estimated Asian countries around the middle of this century on the basis of information including an acidic ma- judging from yield and water resources, and will terial dynamics model and statistical data. The develop a method for wide-area assessment on a re- wide-area cycle of nitrogen and its environmental gional scale of the risks of rice yield decline. Based burden will be elucidated for the entire East Asian on the results, we will build a scenario to predict the region or on the country level, and predictions will impact of climate change on food production. be made. On the watershed level, research will as- certain the runoff dynamics of nitrate nitrogen, Summary for 2006 phosphorus, and other substances in the pedosphere, As a rice field ecosystem response model, we de- including shallow groundwater, and develop meth- signed a system configuration for a model that consists ods of assessing vulnerability to water pollution. of three elements: dynamics of soil carbon and nitrogen, rice plant growth, and canopy hydrothermal balance. By Summary for 2006 combining the DNDC (DeNitrification-DeComposition) Tests of technologies to suppress the generation of model, which indicates the dynamics of soil carbon and greenhouse gases conducted on farmland in China nitrogen, and a growth model that takes nitrogen nutri- showed the effectiveness, in terms of cost as well, of ents into consideration, we succeeded in reproducing the managing organic materials in rice-wheat cropping sys- effects on growth and yield by the continuous use of or- tems and of using nitrification inhibitors in upland field ganic materials and by nitrogen fertilizer. Verification at cultivation. We built and analyzed a database on N2O eight sites throughout Japan demonstrated that the generation from Japanese farmland, proposed corrected growth model is effective in analyzing the meteorologi- emission factor values for each emission category, and cal and cultivation technology factors that affect changes included them in the report on Japan’s greenhouse gas in crop conditions. inventory (Table 1). Further, the 2006 IPCC revised To illuminate crop response to global warming and guidelines adopted our new calculation method and de- high atmospheric CO2 under field conditions for the fault values for methane generated by the world’s rice purpose of predicting changes in rice yield, we built a fields. database of growth, yield, and meteorological compo- We performed the basic design for a carbon and ni- nents from a free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experi- trogen flow model that comprises a wide-area carbon and ment conducted at Shizukuishi, Japan and Jiangsu Prov- nitrogen balance model and an integrated organic mate- ince, China. rial dynamics model. We verified the model with respect to soil organic material dynamics on the basis of soil data, and used a scenario assuming that rice straw is removed

41 Research Overview in 2006

Table 1 Emission factor for N2O from cropland soil in Japan Emission source Emission factor Uncertainty Source or au- Crop type* (kgN2O-N/kgN) (kgN2O-N/kgN) thority

Paddy rice 0.31% ±0.31% Synthetic and Citations 1), 2) organic fertilizer Tea 2.90% ±1.8% Other crops 0.62% ±0.48% IPCC default Crop residue 1.25% ±0.25-6% values

Indirect emissions IPCC default 1.00% ±0.5% （atmospheric deposition)# values Indirect emissions 1.24% ±0.6-2.5% Citations 1), 3) （leaching, runoff）## * We proposed emission factors for plowing of organic soils using the IPCC default values (emission factor: 8 kg N2O-N ha-1 year-1, uncertainty: 1-80 kg N2O-N ha-1 year-1). # Indirect emissions (atmospheric deposition): N2O emitted when nitrogen applied as fertilizer volatilizes into the atmosphere and then settles again to earth. ## Indirect emissions (leaching, runoff): N2O that arises through the transport process from streams to the ocean through the groundwater. 1) Akiyama et al., Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 52, 774-787（2006） 2) Akiyama et al., Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 18, GB2012 (2005) 3) Sawamoto et al., Geophys. Res. Let., 32, L03403 (2005)

and organic amendments applied to calculate the changes (1) Long-term monitoring researches of agro-environment in the carbon storage of fields in Japan, and to show that and development of simple and accurate methods using organic amendments is effective for building car- for analysis bon storage (Fig. 1). To throw light on the temperature To assess environmental changes due to global warming, response of organic material decomposition, we devel- sudden disasters, and other causes, and to properly assess oped a method for soil heating experiments on farmland. and manage agricultural resources, it is necessary to con- Additionally, we collected and compiled information tinuously collect ecosystem data over long terms at rep- from China including national and regional statistics, and resentative sites, and to build useful databases. For that soil carbon data. purpose we will develop methods for the simple but Research on nitrogen runoff in watersheds found that highly precise measurement of agro-environments, and soil layers with high denitrification activity in field sys- perform long-term monitoring. tems using tea and rice fields are distributed in limited areas near the boundaries between diluvial and alluvial Research Plan for 2006–2010 soils. Investigating the runoff of phosphorus through the To detect changes in agro-environment resources at subsoil found that most of the phosphorus runoff through an early date, we will perform long-term monitoring culverts from clay upland fields converted from paddy of the physical environment, which is the baseline of fields occurs when suspended phosphorus that has stag- agro-ecosystems. We will also monitor greenhouse nated in the boundary between the plow layer and plow gas fluxes including carbon dioxide and methane, sole is carried out through cracks, but that in yellow soil and monitor 137Cs, 210Pb, and other isotopes in crops tea fields almost all runoff phosphorus is in a dissolved and the soil. We will develop a method to analyze state. organic arsenic and other trace chemicals in the environment, which includes crops, and a simple but C. Basic study to support elucidation of the agro-eco- highly precise measurement method for chemicals in systems functionality the environment. 1) Long-term monitoring researches of environment in relation to agriculture Summary for 2006 We used a standardized method to analyze the monitoring data, including that on carbon dioxide flux, ob-

tained from the five sites in farmland and grassland eco- conjunction with North Korea’s nuclear testing, but de- systems in the Monsoon Asia program, which NIAES tected no artificial radioactive nuclides in leafy vegeta- runs for the Asia Flux network. We then determined the bles. Long-term monitoring data indicated that the de- characteristics of the carbon dioxide balances between crease rate of radioactive Sr in the plow layer of upland ecosystems and between sites. In addition to these flux fields' soil is determined by the soil’s cation exchange observation sites, we started observations at new sites capacity. including Bangladesh, thereby enhancing our observa- We developed a method to quantify organic arsenic tion system. compounds in soil contaminated with organic arsenic, Monitoring of radioactive substances found that the and in the rice straw and unpolished rice grown in that concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs in the rice and barley soil (Fig. 2). produced in 2005 in radiation reference fields throughout Japan, and the concentrations in the soils in those fields 2) Collection, classification, and digital archive of were the same as in 2004. We performed a rush study in environmental resources

Scenario B Scenario A Fig. 1 Spatial distribution of changes in organic carbon stock in paddy soil, in Kyushu (white cells represent places with decreases over a period of 20 years, and black cells are places where there were increases)

Initial conditions: Soil carbon stock distribution determined on the basis of a basic soil fertility conservation survey and a representative soil profile database. Scenarios: Taken from a 2004 report on studying and analyzing management by farmers who practice eco-compatible farming (rice cultivation). A: Straw removed, only stubble and roots (67 kg C/ha) incorporated into soil. B: Organic amendments, rice straw, stubble, roots (174 kg C/ ha), and compost (32 kg C/ ha).

Fig. 2 Simultaneous determination of various arsenic compounds. The detection limits were 0.5–5.0 pg as As.

43 Research Overview in 2006

(1) Development of natural resources inventory and whose land use type is a simple large rice field district. its utilization We then developed an algorithm to identify wide-area As advances are made in field research such as studies changes in flooded areas, rice-cropping types, and land and analyses of environmental resources and various use by using high-frequency observation data. To help ways of monitoring them, it is important to accelerate formulate agro-environmental indicators, we completed a research by efficiently using assets such as the specimens general-purpose spatial information platform that per- and information obtained from such research, and to take forms the integrated accumulation and management of the initiative in research at home and abroad. For that spatial information that forms the basis for assessing the purpose, we will develop ways to build and use a com- ecological roles and environmental burdens of farmland, prehensive inventory of environmental resources. and performs assessments and predictions. Additionally, for the development of indicators showing changes in Research Plan for 2006–2010 organism habitats, we gathered data on the Japanese To comprehensively assess agro-environments, we macaque (Macaca fuscata) and integrated them into the will develop technologies to analyze remote sensing GIS. By making efficient use of inventory data and other data from sources including microwave measure- information, we prepared soil erosion risk indexes while ments and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spec- referring to sources including past research, and created troradiometer (MODIS). By using the Geographic a risk map with a 1-km grid using the indexes. Information System (GIS) and other means, we will We developed a system that prepares thematic maps develop new methods of ascertaining the state of ag- by linking individual databases on soils, insects, and ricultural land use, and indicators relating to organ- other subjects. Additionally, GIS data on insects and ism habitats. We will develop a method for linking other subjects for which geographical coordinates had individual databases that have the GIS as their been generated from place names were additionally reg- shared platform, and develop a new information re- istered to the agro-environmental inventory. For the cording and collection system, thereby contributing purpose of expanding and enhancing data on environ- to the formulation of agro-environmental indicators. mental resources, we databased 1300 items from soil Furthermore, we will expand individual environ- series surveys, and published soil survey-related materi- mental resource databases, publish a tentative soil als on the web. Our work on microorganisms included classification that includes functional assessments of registering to the inventory another 133 strains that de- deep soil, and build a comprehensive soil database compose persistent substances, 30 strains of 2,4-D de- of cropland and non-cropland. To efficiently use in- composers, and 30 strains closely related to Burkholderia ventory data and other information, we will develop cepacia, while for insects we registered another 1800 a basic statistical method, a method of visualizing its butterfly specimens, 1600 ground beetle (Carabidae) results, and other tools, and also cooperate as a specimens, and more. sub-bank of the gene bank run by the National In- For the gene bank project, we prepared data sheets on stitute of Agrobiological Resources. the history and handling of 67 microorganism strains and data sheets on a total of 1243 characteristics of 244 Summary for 2006 strains. We bred 100 strains of bacteria and transferred We collected and processed time-sequenced satellite them to the central gene bank, while for insects we per- images, mainly from MODIS, data on cultivation history formed characteristic assessment studies for 13 items in and from on-site surveys, and other information, then five species, and sustaining characteristic studies for 13 chose as our region for analysis the Mekong Delta, items in eight lines.

Special Research Projects

1. Japan–Korea Cooperative Research 1. Discharge of suspended matter and associated phos- Project on Water Quality Conservation phorus to tile drains in a clayey field with subsurface in Agro-Ecosystems and Assessment of cracks (NIAES Annual Report 2005, p. 51) Risk to the Environment We found that discharge of water to the tile drains was initiated soon after the pressure potential at the top- Both Japan and Korea are located in monsoon Asia, soil–plowsole boundary became positive, and we pre- and they have similar agro-ecosystems that depend on sumed that subsoil cracks can be major pathways for the rice production. In addition, there are many points of discharge of suspended soil particles and associated similarity between Japan and Korea, not only in terms of phosphorus from clayey ex-paddy fields. their agro-ecosystems but also in socioeconomic features 2. Database system for estimating the nutrient balance such as their high population densities, high levels of associated with agricultural production in administra- dependence on food supplied from overseas, and advanced tive districts (NIAES Annual Report 2004, pp. 57–58) states of industrialization. Accordingly, both countries We established a database system in which we have various problems with the water quality of their estimated the nutrient balance in arable lands on the agro-ecosystems—including contamination by nitrate- basis of statistical information collected in administrative nitrogen, heavy metals, and dioxins—and they face the districts such as prefectures, cities, and towns. common challenges of evaluating indirect emissions of 3. Origin of nitrous oxide in the shallow ground- greenhouse gases, assessing the impact of farm chemicals water under upland fields (NIAES Annual Report on aquatic organisms, and developing technologies to 2005, p. 52) reduce contamination by these chemicals. Changes in the stable-isotope ratio of nitrogen to oxygen suggested that, in the ground water lying under In this cooperative research project, we therefore the upland fields of Ibaraki Prefecture on which farmers aimed at the conservation of water quality in agro-ecosys- had disposed of livestock excreta, nitrogen oxides have tems and elucidation of the influence of agricultural originated from different sources (such as chemical activities on water quality in Japan and Korea. In fertilizers and the livestock excreta), which may have addition, we planned to verify reduction technologies mixed together through leaching and horizontal migra- that have been developed here in Japan—including a tion. model that predicts water quality, a water balance model, 4. Easy detection of the herbicide susceptibility of dia- technology to reduce nitrogen loads by using natural toms from the rate of growth of their native colonies circulation, and methods for monitoring toxic substances— (NIAES Annual Report 2006, pp. 46–47) in Korea, where the ecosystem is similar. For a total of 4 We developed a method for easily detecting the years (from FY 2003 to FY 2006), researchers worked herbicide susceptibility of native colonies of diatoms, together to tackle the following three major challenges: which are the dominant producer organisms in Japanese 1. assessment of the effects of agricultural activities on rivers. The newly developed method can be widely the water quality in agro-ecosystems utilized in the ecotoxicological assessment of the prod- 2. development of a PC-based model to predict water ucers in our rivers. quality and development of promising technologies 5. High susceptibilities of the aquatic fern Salvinia for water quality conservation natans to sulfonylurea herbicides (NIAES Annual 3. elucidation of the toxic substance loading of arable Report 2006, p. 37) lands and development of a methodology for risk We found that the threatened free-floating fern S. assessment in agro-ecosystems. natans had the highest susceptibility to bensulfuron-methyl, a kind of sulfonylurea herbicide, among the plants tested. Our major achievements can be summarized as The susceptibility of this species was much higher than follows: that of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, the species recommended by the OECD guidelines for use in testing chemicals.

45 Research Overview in 2006

2. POPs and Related Compounds in Agri- years were estimated to be 1.7 to 12.1 years and 5.3 to 35 cultural Fields in Japan: Contamination years, respectively. We found that the total carbon con- Status and its Future Trend tent (T-C) of the soil is an important factor in the disappearance of these compounds from agricultural soils. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as dioxins, Therefore, the mass balance of POPs and related com- PCBs, DDT, dieldrin, and chlordane, are transferred pounds in agricultural fields was calculated by using the across borders and are accumulated in organisms such as half-lives and T-C as key parameters. Although over 90% polar bears and seals. This means that POPs cause con- of the total amount of POPs and related compounds used tamination on a global scale. The Stockholm Convention on Japanese agricultural soils has disappeared over the on Persistent Organic Pollutants entered into force in last half century, the concentrations of the remaining May 2004 with the aim of encouraging cooperation compounds will decrease very gradually over time. among countries worldwide to minimize or prevent the global environmental contamination caused by these 1000 compounds. After the limits set by the Convention begin HCHs DDTs to take effect, it should be possible to manage some of 100 Drins CHLs -dry) HCB the issues associated with POPs, such as prohibition of -1 HPCLs use and reduction of emissions to the environment, and 10 Mir ex to predict future changes in contamination levels. 1 The purposes of this project were to elucidate the status of contamination by POPs and related compounds 0.1 in the agricultural soils of Japan from the 1960s up to the present, and to predict future trends in the levels of these (ngConcentration g 0.01 compounds, by the analysis of archived agricultural soils 0.001 collected from all over Japan since the 1960s. We are 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 also developing a multimedia model that will consider Sampling year the diffusion and outflow of these substances to the at- Fig. 1 Temporal changes in OCP concentrations (geo- mosphere and the aquatic environment. The project ran metric mean of 14 sites, ng g–1 -dry) in Japa- from FY 2004 to FY 2006. nese paddy soils The temporal changes in the levels of POPs and related compounds in agricultural soils (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) 1000 reflected changes in the use of pesticides. DDTs, dieldrin, HCHs DDTs and HCHs were used as insecticides until they were Dr ins 100 CHLs banned in the early 1970s. The concentrations of DDTs, -dry) HCB -1 HPCLs dieldrin, and HCHs began to decrease dramatically at the 10 Mir ex end of the 1960s. Chlordane was used as an agricultural pesticide until 1968 and for the treatment of domestic 1 pest insects until 1986. The concentrations of chlordane 0.1 in agricultural soils increased from the 1970s through to

the 1980s. Thereafter, concentrations have decreased (ngConcentration g 0.01 continuously. This pattern suggests that chlordane was transported via the atmosphere and (or) water during the 0.001 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 entire period in which it was used. Sampling year In order to estimate the mass balance of POPs and Fig. 2 Temporal changes in OCP concentrations (geo- related compounds in agricultural fields during the last metric mean of 10 sites, ng g–1 -dry) in Japa- half century and to predict their future contamination nese upland soils status, we estimated the half-lives of these compounds in terms of their disappearance from agricultural soils. These half-lives during the initial 10 years (from the year in which they were detected at the highest concentration through the following 10 years) and after the initial 10

3. Development of a System for the Analysis fied Organisms”, aims to investigate the appropriate use of Soil Biodiversity by Using Environ- of recombinant DNA techniques. The four major re- mental DNA search subjects are: I. Collection of scientific knowledge on the effects of living modified organisms (LMOs) on Extremely diverse microorganisms and micro-fauna biodiversity; II. Development of management measures live in the soil, and they have important roles in the cy- that will assure the safe use of GM crops; III. Develop- cling of various elements through the soil. Their activi- ment of measures for the coexistence of GMOs with ties affect not only soil fertility but also the occurrence conventional crops; and IV. Collection and analysis of and suppression of disease by soil pathogens. Therefore, overseas research into techniques for securing the safety the characteristics of soil microorganisms and soil of GM crops (Fig.1). Details of each research subject are fauna—otherwise commonly known as “soil biological as follows. properties”—are considered to be important soil indexes. I. Collection of scientific knowledge on the effects of We have been conducting various studies in this research LMOs on biodiversity, focusing on the development of area to explore new technologies for maintaining soil methods for appropriate biodiversity risk assessment fertility and suppressing soil disease. However, our cur- under the Cartagena Law (law concerning the conserva- rent technologies enable us to cultivate less than 1% of tion and sustainable use of biological diversity through soil microorganisms. Furthermore, because the identifi- regulations on the use of living modified organisms; cation of soil fauna is extremely difficult for those who came into force February 2004) and on research into are not well trained as taxonomists, our current knowl- satisfying public concerns. Types of LMOs include crops edge of their function is scant. Recent advances in mo- (clover, bentgrass, sweet potato, strawberry, soybean, lecular biology have made it possible to examine DNA and canola), fishes (salmon, killifish, and zebra fish), extracted directly from the soil. By analyzing the DNA insects (silkworm, bee), trees (Japanese cedar), and mi- (environmental DNA, eDNA) from soil, we have been crobes. Examples of the information to be collected are investigating “soil biological properties” without the the degree of pollen dispersal, degree of generational cultivation of microorganisms (see Annual Report 2005, change, the possibility and degree of introgression, unin- pp. 41–42). tended changes in biochemical characteristics, and ad- We have therefore started on a new project, “Devel- verse effects of substances produced by the expression of opment of a System for the Analysis of Soil Biodiversity transgenes. by Using Environmental DNA ”, which is supported by II. Development of management measures that will as- the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Research Council sure the safe use of GM crops. These include biological of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. containment by the use of sterile male lines and lodi- This 5-year project has three major themes: 1) develop- cule-size dwindles in crops (cleistogamy), and the de- ment of a method of analyzing soil organisms by using velopment of techniques for the detection of new GMOs. eDNA; 2) analysis of soil biological properties and crop III. Development of measures for the coexistence of production, and the development of new indices for these GMOs with conventional crops, such as the prevention properties; and 3) development of a database of soil of crossing and contamination. eDNA and its utilization methods. The project is led by IV. Collection and analysis of overseas research into NIAES and is conducted by NIAES, several institutes techniques for securing the safety of GM crops. To help from the National Agriculture and Food Research Or- us in our own research project we plan to collect and ganization (NARO), and several universities. analyze European research into techniques of securing the safety of GM crops. (V. Census project to survey public opinion) for com- 4. Research Project on Assurance of Safe prehensive project on GMOs. Use of Genetically Modified Organisms By gathering data on public opinion we intend to gain an understanding of the public’s view on GM crops. The second term (2006 to 2010) of the above project, This will help us to promote mutual communication and which is entrusted to NIAES by the Ministry of Agricul- to disseminate comprehensive research results and other ture, Forestry and Fisheries as part of its “Comprehen- GM information. sive Project on Securing the Safety of Genetically Modi-

47 Research Overview in 2006

Fig. 1 The Main Structure of Comprehensive Project on Securing the Safety of Genetically Modified Organisms

5. Modeling Rice-based Agro-Ecosystem and nitrogen-dependent CO2 fertilization, and the effects Responses to Climate Change for Risk of abiotic stresses such as extreme temperatures under Assessment in Rice Production elevated CO2 conditions. We will use various experimental results obtained from chamber and field experi-

Ongoing climate change will have significant im- ments, including free-air CO2 enrichment studies, to de- pacts on future agricultural production. To ensure the velop and test the model. At a regional scale, we aim to food supply under changing environments, we need to evaluate climate change impacts on rice production, tak- assess these impacts on staple food production and to ing into consideration the temporal and spatial variations develop agricultural technologies that can adapt to future in environmental and technological changes. We will conditions. We have therefore initiated this project to address variations in both crop harvestable area and yield develop a model that enables us to analyze and predict under changing climates. Constraints on these compo- the effects of climate change on rice production and the nents can differ from region to region, depending on soil, interaction of these effects with soil and crop manage- water, and climatic resources. For this study, we have ment factors. Both field- and regional-scale impact as- chosen to target three regions in which these conditions sessments will be necessary, the former for directing differ greatly: Japan (where irrigated and comparatively future agricultural technology and the latter for address- uniform management is practiced), the Mekong River ing the risks of rice production variability under future Basin (mostly rain-fed lowland, with large spatial varia- climates. At a field level, predictions of the rice produc- tions in precipitation and in soil and hydrological condition response to climate change will need to take account tions), and China (mainly in Heilongjiang Province, of soil and crop management factors. The field-scale where large-scale land-use change is occurring). By model will therefore include soil carbon and nitrogen modeling the impacts of water resource changes on the metabolism, a mechanistic presentation of the crop age- plantable or harvestable area and combining this model-

ing with a simple regional rice yield model that takes in arable fields and those observed downstream. Part of into account water and nitrogen use, we will attempt to this difference has been ascribed to denitrification (the answer the question of how vulnerable these different loss of nitrate under anaerobic conditions), a process that rice production systems will be in response to global should reduce the vulnerability of the areas to nitrate climate change. Our goal is to quantify the effects of pollution. However, not very much is known about the technological and climatic factors on rice production spatial distribution of denitrification activity at a water- under different ecosystems at different scales. shed scale. A collaborative study is in progress to elucidate the nitrate transport and denitrification processes in shallow groundwater in an attempt to identify the key 6. Evaluating Environmental Vulnerability factors governing the denitrification activity. We are also to Water Pollution by Gaining a Better attempting to define the vulnerability of areas with dif- Understanding of Nutrient Fates in Soil ferent soil and topographic conditions to nitrate pollu- and Water Systems tion. Phosphorus discharge from arable fields is of critical The threat of surface and ground water pollution by concern because of its potential for eutrophication of excess nutrients discharged from arable fields is still in- surface water. In addition to the surface runoff of phos- creasing. To introduce appropriate strategies that will phorus during rainfall events, there has been increasing prevent the degradation of water quality at a watershed evidence that, in clayey fields, discharge of dissolved scale, it is prerequisite to develop a suitable method for and particulate phosphorus to tile drains can be a major evaluating the vulnerability of different areas to water pathway of phosphorus export to surface waters. Field pollution. In a newly launched collaborative research monitoring studies are being performed to elucidate the project, “Evaluating Environmental Vulnerability to Wa- processes of phosphorus discharge in a clayey ex-paddy ter Pollution on the Basis of a Better Understanding of field that has subsurface cracks and in sloping fields with Nutrient Fates in Soil and Water Systems” (FY highly water-dispersible soil. 2006–2010), we are investigating the discharging proc- The environmental vulnerability of areas as defined esses of excess nutrients in soil, shallow groundwater, above with respect to nitrate and phosphorus pollution and surface water systems to better define environmental will then be incorporated into a watershed-scale nutrient vulnerability and to develop a method for evaluating dynamics model that combines detailed topographical water pollution risk at a watershed scale. and land-use information. The model should be able to Particular attention is paid to quantifying denitrifica- produce risk assessment maps of water pollution by ex- tion at a watershed scale. Our previous research has cess nutrients in selected areas characterized by different shown that there are considerable gaps between the ni- topographical, soil, and land-use conditions. trate loads estimated from the surface balance of nitrogen

49 Invitations, Training and Information Events

Symposia and Workshops

1. Conferences, Workshops and Research Meetings

Title Place Date Participants The 3rd Seminar on Risk Assessment and Prevention of Invasive Okayama August 5, 2006 165 Alien Plants: How Should We Face Against Alien Plants? University

International Workshop on Development of Database (APASD) Taiwan ROC September 19-21, 60 for Biological Invasion 2006

Korea–Japan Joint International Symposium: Nitrogen Behavior Korea September 21-22, 200 and its Effective Management in Agro-Ecosystems 2006

3rd Meeting for the Presentation of NIAES Research Topics: Meiji-Yasuda September 28, 221 Thinking about Agriculture and the Environment Life Hall 2006

The 4th Seminar on Risk Assessment and Prevention of Invasive Electric October 21, 2006 75 Alien Plants: Research Findings in One-Year Building, Fukuoka

The 6th Seminar on Organic Chemical Studies: Current Issues NIAES October 5, 2006 119 and Counterstrategies in Drift of Chemicals to the Atmosphere

The 23rd Research Meeting on Pesticides: Pesticide Residue in NIAES October 6, 2006 122 Minor Crops – Problems and Future Issues –

The 4th Symposium of Environmental Research Institutes in Tsukuba November 28, 123 Japan International 2006 Congress Center

Aquatic and Ecological Environment in Koise-River Watershed: Tsukuba December 8, 2006 120 Toward the Establishment of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries International Co-existing with Nature Congress Center

The 5th Seminar on Risk Assessment and Prevention of Invasive Tokyo December 10, 127 Alien Plants International 2006 Forum

NIAES International Symposium 2006: Evaluation and Effec- Tsukuba December 12–14, 276 tive Use of Environmental Resources for Sustainable Agricul- International 2006 ture in Monsoon Asia –Toward International Research Collabo- Congress ration Center

The 24th Seminar on Soil and Water: Soil as a Base for Material Tsukuba February 21, 2007 122 Circulation—its Role in the Carbon Cycle Office, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council

The 23rd Meteorology Workshop: Plant Responses to Air Pol- NIAES March 9, 2007 122 lutants and Global Changes

Towards the Establishment of Future-Oriented Urban Society Toyohashi March 12, 2007 with Agriculture and Industrial Cluster of Food and Agriculture University of Technology

2. Sixth Seminar on Organic Chemical 3. The 24th Seminar on Soil and Water: Soil Studies: Current Issues and Counter- as a Base for Material Circulation—its strategies in Drift of Chemicals to the Role in the Carbon Cycle Atmosphere On 21 February 2007, the 24th Seminar on Soil and The Sixth Seminar on Organic Chemical Studies was Water was held at the Tsukuba Norin Hall in the Tsukuba held on 5 October 2006 at the NIAES conference hall. office of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Five domestic speakers experienced in pesticide drift to Council Secretariat. At this seminar, as part of the inter- the atmosphere were invited from government, inde- national effort to address global warming since the pendent administrative institutions, and Japan’s National Kyoto Protocol entered into force, the newest research Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations results were reported and the discussion focused on the (Zen-Noh). There were a total of 119 participants. following points: 1) dynamics of soil carbon at the global Various organochemicals are drifting in the atmos- and regional scales; 2) humus as inherent soil organic pheric environment, and sick house syndrome and chemi- matter at a micro-scale; and 3) sustainability of soil fer- cal sensitivity have recently become serious problems. In tility at the field scale under changing cultivation sys- agriculture, pesticide spraying causes spray and vapor tems. The total number of participants on that day was drifts, and the population is also exposed directly and 215: 90 from municipal governments, 13 from universi- indirectly via the crop and soils. Twelve compounds are ties and colleges, 16 from private companies, 51 from currently listed by the Stockholm Convention as persis- national institutes, and 45 from NIAES. tent organic pollutants (POPs), and nine of them are pes- Nine speakers gave presentations on the following ticides or their byproducts. POPs are characterized by a topics: 1) Aim of the seminar: role of soil in the carbon high level of hazard (highly toxic) and high exposure cycle as a base for material circulation (K. Sugahara, potential (long persistence in the environment, high bio- NIAES); 2) Newest trends in research on the carbon cy- accumulation, long distance transport). We are concerned cle at a global scale: results of the Global Carbon Project that not only POPs but also pesticides are having adverse and relevant projects of the Ministry of Environment (Y. effects on human health and the environment. The objec- Yamagata, National Institute for Environmental Studies); tives of this seminar were to define the current issues and 3) Elucidation of the carbon cycle in an agricul- counterstrategies in the risk management of chemicals in ture–forestry–fisheries ecosystem: introduction of the the atmosphere, including pesticide drift, and to discuss Global Warming Project of the Ministry of Agriculture, the directions of further studies. Forestry and Fisheries (K. Yagi, NIAES); 4) Evaluation The following topics were presented at the seminar: of soil carbon change at a regional scale: extension of the 1) Provisions for dealing with chemicals under the Air Rothamsted C model (M. Yokozawa, NIAES); 5) Carbon Pollution Control Law (M. Kida, Ministry of Environ- balance of forest ecosystems, focusing on the pedosphere ment); 2) Exhaust of pollutants and their behavior in the and long-term monitoring of soil respiration (A. Kishi- atmosphere (K. Kawamoto, National Institute for Envi- moto, NIAES); 6) Relationship between dynamics of ronmental Studies); 3) Approaches to drift studies using soluble organic matter in the soil and carbon accumula- an atmosphere–vegetation model (K. Inoue, National tion (R. Wagai, Kyoto University); 7) Mechanism of Agricultural Research Center; T. Watanabe, Forestry and accumulation of humic substances in the soil (N. Yama- Forest Products Research Institute); 4) Approaches to guchi, NIAES); 8) Differences in farmland management combating the spray drift of pesticides (Y. Kawahata, practices and carbon sequestration in upland fields (N. Zen-Noh); and 5) Status quo of studies of pesticide vapor Koga, National Agricultural Research Center for the drift, and new approaches to these studies (Y. Kobara, Hokkaido Region); and 9) Influence of continuous NIAES). paddy–upland rotations on soil fertility (N. Kato, Na- A group discussion was conducted to promote the tional Agricultural Research Center for the Tohoku Re- exchange of opinions. Participants exchanged ideas on gion). spray drift, vapor drift, and models to simulate drift. The general discussion emphasized the urgency and signifi- The general discussion focused on the following cance of these issues and revealed that participants had a points: mutual understanding of them. 1. Carbon cycle at a global scale In relation to the carbon dynamics of East Asia, Dr. Yamagata pointed out problems such as the fact that organic matter flows out into water bodies as a result of the

51 Invitations, Training and Information Events destabilization of peat bogs. Because plans to drain wide on plants. He showed that crop production in East Asia areas of peat bogs for agricultural use are being imple- will decrease in response to the increase in ambient mented in Indonesia and Malaysia, it is possible that ozone concentration that is a consequence of the recent these areas will become sources of carbon dioxide. economic development in China. Dr. H. Saji (National 2. Mechanism of accumulation of soil carbon Institute for Environmental Studies) explained that there In response to the question of whether the long-term are two strongly supported theories on the mechanism by influence of paddy–upland rotation can be predicted by which ozone injuries plants: the active oxygen toxicity the Rothamsted C model, Dr. Yokozawa replied that he theory and the programmed cell death inducement theory. wanted to tackle it as a future subject. In response to the Dr. K. Ogawa (Center for Environmental Sciences in question of whether the maximum amount of carbon Saitama) conducted that a principal cause of the decline stored in the soil can be estimated from the soil contents observed in Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria Japonica, in of Al and Fe, Dr. Wagai and Dr. Yamaguchi replied that areas such as the plains of the Kanto district is not acid this would be difficult. Dr. Koga’s response to the ques- rain, but the recent periods of low air humidity and water tion of how much deep he evaluates in farmland was that stress. From the results of high-altitude observations of he follows the guideline (30 cm) of the International ambient ozone concentrations and simulations of moun- Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC). tain air streams, Dr. Y. Kohno (Central Research Institute 3. Management of organic matter and food production: of Electric Power Industry) proposed that the cause of Dr. Morihiro Maeda made the following comments: decline of beeches on the mountaintops and ridgelines in 1) the application of organic materials with high carbon the Tanzawa Ranges of Kanagawa Prefecture might be to nitrogen (C/N) ratios may have a negative effect on both the influence of ozone and the strong winds that are plant growth; and 2) paddy–upland rotations should not a product of the geography of the area. Dr. J. Hidema be stopped from the viewpoint of carbon decomposition, (Tohoku University) reported that UV-B enhancement although they decrease the carbon content in soil. In ad- levels of 40% above ambient decreased the yield of “Sa- dition, Dr. Koichiro Aramaki commented that, if the ob- sanishiki” rice and also increased the proportion of small jective is to store carbon, then he would recommend ex- brown rice grains. Dr. T. Hasegawa (NIAES) reported tensive fertilizer application in the form of bark compost. from FACE experiments that CO2 enrichment at 200

In light of these comments, the discussion focused on the ppm above ambient CO2 concentration increased rice question of what kind of soil management is desirable to yield by about 14% in both Japan and China. Dr. T. Ma- prevent the decrease in soil fertility that results from tsui (Gifu University) explained that there were two paddy–upland rotation. ways in which heat can induce spikelet sterility in rice plants: by defective pollen dispersal and by defective anther opening. From the results of field observations 4. 23rd Meteorology Workshop: Plant Re- and the analysis of a heat balance model to simulate sponses to Air Pollutants and Global panicle temperature, Dr. M. Yoshimoto (NIAES) ex- Changes plained that the actual temperature of the panicles is more important than the air temperature in generating The 23rd Meteorology Workshop was held to on 9 heat-induced spikelet sterility in rice plants. Finally, a March 2007, with eight speakers and about 130 partici- panel discussion, "Development of research to evaluate pants, in the NIAES meeting hall. The objective of this plant responses to atmospheric environmental change" symposium was to review research on plant response of was held by the eight speakers. Panelist and participants to air pollutants and global changes in the past, present, agreed that the mobilization of wide research powers is and future. After the opening address by Dr. Y. Sato, essential if we are to promote research to predict changes President of NIAES, the eight speakers gave presenta- in agricultural production from global warming, these tions. The topics can be summarized as follows. Dr. I. changes are now an issue of the greatest concern world- Nouchi, Director of NIAES, reviewed the results of the wide. last 40 years of Japanese research on the effects of ozone

Foreign Visitors

1. Foreign Scholars

Affiliation Subject Duration Bangladesh, Agricultural University Rice paddy flux observation in Bengal Lowland May 22, 2006～ September 05, 2006

Bangladesh, Agricultural University Rice paddy flux observation in Bengal Lowland July 07, 2006～ July 27, 2006

Korea, Rural Development Administra- Corporative Research Project on "Exposure and risk as- August 17, 2006～ tion sessment on the persistent organic pollutants(POPs)" August 20, 2006

Korea, National Institute of Agricultural Corporative Research Project on "Exposure and risk as- August 17, 2006～ Science and Technology sessment on the persistent organic pollutants(POPs)" August 20, 2006

China, Yangzhou University FACE study to predict the impacts of atmospheric CO2 in- December 01, 2006～ crease on rice production December 29, 2006

Thailand, Khon Kaen University Development of control technology and traceability sys- December 10, 2006～ tem for field crop production in safety December 16, 2006

Thailand, Khon Kaen Rice Research Evaluating interactions between water cycle change and December 10, 2006～ Center demand for water for food production December 16, 2006

Thailand, Department of Agriculture NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 09, 2006～ December 16, 2006

Vietnam, University of Natural Sciences NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 09, 2006～ December 16, 2006

Philippines, International Rice Research NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 10, 2006～ Institute December 13, 2006

Philippines, International Rice Research NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 10, 2006～ Institute December 16, 2006

Australia, The University of Queensland NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 10, 2006～ December 13, 2006

China, Institute of Soil Science NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 10, 2006～ December 16, 2006

China, Institute of Soil Science NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 10, 2006～ December 20, 2006

China, Fudan University NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ December 16, 2006

Korea, National Institute of Agricultural NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ Biotechnology December 16, 2006

Korea, National Institute of Agricultural NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ Science and Technology December 16, 2006

53 Invitations, Training and Information Events

Affiliation Subject Duration Korea, National Institute of Agricultural NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ Science and Technology December 16, 2006

India, Annamalai University NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ December 16, 2006

Sri Lanka, University of Peradeniya NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ December 16, 2006

China, China National Rice Research NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ Institute December 16, 2006

Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural Univer- NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ sity December 16, 2006

Thailand, King Mongkut's University of NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ Technology Thonburi December 16, 2006

India, Ministry of Environment & For- NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ ests December 16, 2006

Vietnam, Southern Institute of Water NIAES International Symposium 2006 December 11, 2006～ Resources Research December 16, 2006

Korea, National Institute of Agricultural Corporative Research Project on "Exposure and risk as- December 14, 2006～ Science and Technology sessment on the persistent organic pollutants(POPs)" December 21, 2006

China, Northwest Plateau Institute of Integrated Study for Terrestrial Carbon Management of December 19, 2006～ Biology, Chinese Academy of Science Asia in the 21st Century Based on Scientific Advance- December 25, 2006 ments

Thailand, Royal Forestry Department Synthetic Evaluation of the Effects of Acidic Load on February 19, 2007～ Material Flows in East Asian Catchments Areas February 24, 2007

China, Heilongjiang Academy of Agri- Synthetic Evaluation of the Effects of Acidic Load on February 25, 2007～ cultural Sciences Material Flows in East Asian Catchments Areas February 28, 2007

Bangladesh, Agricultural University Rice paddy flux observation in Bengal Lowland February 28, 2007～ March 20, 2007

Korea, National Institute of Agricultural Japan-Korea Cooperative Research Project on Water March 07, 2007～ Science and Technology Quality Conservation in Agro-Ecosystems and Assessment March 09, 2007 of Risk to the Environment

Affiliation Subject Duration Sri Lanka, (Tokyo Metropolitan Univer- Analysis of the relationship between climate and ENSO April 27, 2006～ sity) and its influence on agriculture in Asia September 29, 2006, October 01, 2006～ March 01, 2007

Egypt, Assiut University Demographic Dynamics and Sustainable Rural Develop- September 01, 2006～ ment in Developing Countries November 03, 2006

Korea, National Institute of Agricultural Exchange of opinions on the subjects agreed in the Ja- October 17, 2006～ Science and Technology pan-Korea Committee on the Agriculture, Forestry and October 20, 2006 Fisheries Technology Cooperation

Korea, National Institute of Highland Exchange of opinions on the subjects agreed in the Ja- October 17, 2006～ Agriculture pan-Korea Committee on the Agriculture, Forestry and October 20, 2006 Fisheries Technology Cooperation

Korea, National Institute of Agricultural Japan-Korea Cooperative Research Project on Water October 17, 2006～ Science and Technology Quality Conservation in Agro-Ecosystems and Assessment October 26, 2006 of Risk to the Environment

2. Fellows

Fellowship Affiliation Research Subject Duration JSPS China, Institute of Soil Characterization of soil microbial community structure re- October 20, 2004～ Postdoctoral Science lated to N2O emission by molecular analysis October 19, 2006 Fellowship

China, Research Center Colloid-facilitated and dissolved transport of cadmium October 25, 2004～ for Eco-Environmental through cracked subsurface soils October 24, 2006 Sciences

China, Institute of Soil Study on soil microbial emissions of nitrous oxide by 15N November 01, 2004～ Science tracer technique October 31, 2006

Egypt, Assiut University Demographic dynamics and sustainable rural development April 01, 2005～ in developing countries November 28, 2006

Poland, Warsaw Agricul- DNA microarray studies of allelochemicals from buck- August 02, 2005～ ture University wheat August 01, 2007

Nihon University A Comparative study of POPs exposure in Japan and Korea September 01, 2005～ agro-environment based on the high-precision POPs analy- August 31, 2007 sis

UK, Rothamsted Re- Molecular methods for screening QoI resistance in pow- September 14, 2005～ search dery mildews in Japan September 13, 2007

Iran, Shahrekord Univer- A study to improve consistency between morphological November 23, 2005～ sity and DNA-using identification of soil nematodes November 22, 2007

55 Invitations, Training and Information Events

Fellowship Affiliation Research Subject Duration Benin Microbial community on sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii November 30, 2005～ November 29, 2007

JSPS Russia, Agrophysical The evaluation and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions May 12, 2006～ Invitation Research Institute from agricultural soils July 10, 2006 Fellowship

Eco-Frontier Thai, King Mongkut's Modeling methane and nitrous oxide emissions from agri- April 01, 2006～ Fellowship University of Technology cultural land in Asian countries March 31, 2007 Thonburi

Lao, National Agriculture Socio-economic assessment of alternative cropping sce- December 23, 2006～ and Forestry Research narios in slash/burn ecosystems in Lao PDR March 17, 2007 Institute

OECD Korea, National Institute Modeling the nitrogen dynamics at watershed scale for as- April 24, 2006～ cooperative of Agricultural Science sessment of the impact on nitrogen on water quality and its July 23, 2006 research and Technology mitigation through rice fields program

Hunan China, Hunan Agricul- Development of molecular methods for screening sub- May 01, 2006～ Higher tural University stances to induce disease resistance in plants October 31, 2006 Education Project

JISTEC Korea, Seoul National The effect of landscape structure on birds-diversity of January 15, 2006～ Winter University paddy area in Tone River Basin February 15, 2007 Institute

JICA China, Chinese Academy Utilization of agrometeorological information system August 07, 2006～ of Agriculture Science August 29, 2006

Overseas Research and Meetings

1. Overseas Research Trips

Number of Number of Area Country Area Country Times Times Asia China 19 Europe France 4 Thailand 16 Netherlands 2 Korea 4 Spain 2 Mongolia 3 Switzerland 2 Taiwan 3 Germany 1 Vietnam 3 Italy 1 Indonesia 2 UK 1 Bangladesh 1 America Canada 1 India 1 Ecuador 1 Laos 1 Africa Benin 1

2. Long-term Overseas Research

Scholarship Name Delegated Institution Research Subject Duration NIAES Overseas Scholarship Takehiro USA, The Pennsylvania Analysis for the metapopulation September 27, 2005～ Yamanaka University structure of odonate species in September 25, 2006 ponds of a Japanese rural area

3. Overseas Meetings

Participants Meeting Venue Date from NIAES European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2006 Austria April 02, 2006～ 1 April 09, 2006

The International Conference on Environmentally Sustainable Management Korea April 16, 2006～ 1 of Agricultural Water Resources April 16, 2006

Application and Development of Functional Materials Korea April 16, 2006～ 1 April 16, 2006

3rd International Symposium on Phosphorus Dynamics Brazil May 12, 2006～ 1 May 21, 2006

26th Annual Conference of International Association of Impact Assessment Norway May 22, 2006～ 1 May 27, 2006

The 28th Symposium of the European Society of Nematologists Bulgaria June 03, 2006～ 1 June 11, 2006

EST-JSPS Frontier Science Conference "Climate Change" Sweden June 23, 2006～ 1 June 30, 2006

International Symposium on Resources Recycling Korea June 25, 2006～ 1 June 28, 2006

International Geographical Union 2006 Brisbane Conference Austria July 01, 2006～ 1 July 08, 2006

18th World Congress of Soil Science USA July 08, 2006～ 5 July 16, 2006

5th International Conference on Mycorrhiza Spain July 22, 2006～ 1 July 29, 2006

57 Invitations, Training and Information Events

Participants Meeting Venue Date from NIAES APS/CPS/MSA Joint Meeting Canada July 28, 2006～ 1 August 03, 2006

13th Meeting of the International Humic Substances Society Germany July 29, 2006～ 1 August 06, 2006

Ecological Society of America's 91st Annual Meeting USA August 05, 2006～ 2 August 13, 2006

Hennig XXV- The 25th Meeting of the Willi Hennig Society Mexico August 13, 2006～ 1 August 20, 2006

8th International Mylogical Congress Australia August 18, 2006～ 1 August 26, 2006

11th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME-11) Austria August 20, 2006～ 2 August 27, 2006

26th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants Norway August 20, 2006～ 3 (DIOXIN2006) August 27, 2006

19th International Diatom Symposium-2006 Russia August 27, 2006～ 1 September 04, 2006

CIGR(International Commission of Agricultural Engineering) World Con- Germany September 01, 2006～ 1 gress September 08, 2006

British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2006 UK September 04, 2006～ 1 September 09, 2006

232nd National American Chemistry Society Meeting USA September 09, 2006～ 1 September 16, 2006

57th International Executive Council Meeting Malaysia September 12, 2006～ 1 September 15, 2006

Environmental Radiochemical Analysis 10th International Symposium UK September 12, 2006～ 1 September 17, 2006

19th International Conference on the 'Biology of Kluyveromyces' Italy September 14, 2006～ 1 September 19, 2006

Joint IGAC/CACGP/WMO Symposium South September 17, 2006～ 1 Africa September 23, 2006

10th International Specialized Conference on Diffuse Pollution and Sustain- Turkey September 17, 2006～ 1 able Basin Management September 23, 2006

International Workshop on Development of the Database (APASD) for Bio- Taiwan September 18, 2006～ 4 logical Invasion September 22, 2006

International Symposium of the Japan-Korea Research Corporation Korea September 19, 2006～ 9 September 22, 2006

Plasmid Biology 2006 USA September 23, 2006～ 1 September 29, 2006

International Symposium on Recent Advances in Quantitative Remote Sens- Spain September 24, 2006～ 1 ing October 10, 2006

The 27th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing Mongolia October 07, 2006～ 1 October 14, 2006

Participants Meeting Venue Date from NIAES Climate Change Session, 2nd International Rice Congress, 2006 India October 08, 2006～ 1 October 15, 2006

The Biology of Transpiration: From Guard Cells to Globe USA October 09, 2006～ 1 October 16, 2006

4th INRA/MAFF French-Japanese Seminar France October 11, 2006～ 3 October 16, 2006

The 21st Annual Meeting of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Korea October 24, 2006～ 1 October 28, 2006

International Symposium on Impact Evaluation of Global Warming and Ap- Taiwan October 30, 2006～ 1 proach to Risk Analysis in East Asia November 03, 2006

2006 Annual Symposium of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers Korea November 01, 2006～ 1 November 07, 2006

International and Interdisciplinary Workshop on Preferential Flow and Trans- Switzerland November 04, 2006～ 1 port Processes in Soil November 10, 2006

SETAC(Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) North America Canada November 04, 2006～ 1 27th Annual Meeting November 11, 2006

International Symposium on Geoinformatics for Spatial Infrastructure Devel- Vietnam November 08, 2006～ 1 opment In Earth and Allied Sciences November 12, 2006

ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2006 International Meetings USA November 14, 2006～ 1 November 17, 2006

American Anthropological Association, 105th Annual Meeting USA November 14, 2006～ 1 November 21, 2006

AsiaFlux Workshop 2006 Thailand November 17, 2006～ 1 December 02, 2006

4th International Symposium on Biocontrol and Biotechnology India November 25, 2006～ 1 December 01, 2006

Preliminary Symposium for the 5th International Crop Science Congress Korea November 30, 2006～ 1 December 02, 2006

Japan-China Seminar "Sustainable Agriculture" China December 07, 2006～ 3 December 10, 2006

Workshop "Living in a Warmer World: Climate Change and Hong Kong" China December 10, 2006～ 1 December 13, 2006

The Entomological Society of America (ESA) 2006 Annual Meeting USA December 10, 2006～ 1 December 14, 2006

2006 AGU(American Geophysical Union) Fall Meeting USA December 10, 2006～ 2 December 17, 2006

International Workshop on "Future Development for Environment Restoration Taiwan December 13, 2006～ 1 and Disaster Reduction Technologies" December 17, 2006

The 4th Workshop on GHG Inventories in Asia Indonesia February 13, 2007～ 1 February 15, 2007

International Workshop on Allelopathy - Current Trends and Future Applica- Pakistan March 17, 2007～ 1 tions March 23, 2007

59 Appendix

Publications

1. Official publications

1) Bulletin of National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences

2) Miscellaneous Publication of National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, No.30 - No.31

3) NIAES Annual Report 2006

4) NIAES Research Executive Summary (Japanese ed.) (Kenkyu seika joho), No.23

5) Annual Report of National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (Japanese ed.) (Nogyo kankyo gijutsu ken- kyusho nenpo), No.23

6) NIAES News (Japanese ed.)（No-kan-ken nyusu), No.71 - No.74

2. Research Papers published by the NIAES staff

Scientific Papers English 140 Japanese 47 Others 5 Proceedings (incl. Abstracts) English 134 Japanese 404 Others English 38 Japanese 77

3. Research staff activities (English papers) NIAES staff's names are boldfaced.

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Abe K Wastewater treatment by using kenaf in Ecological Engineering 29(2) 125-132 2007 Ozaki Y paddy soil and effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on efficiency Akiyama H Estimations of emission factors for fertil- Soil Science and Plant Nutri- 52(6) 774-787 2006 Yan X izer-induced direct N2O emissions from ag- tion Yagi K ricultural soils in Japan: summary of available data Amano T Costs and benefits of flocking in foraging Journal of Zoology 269(1) 111-115 2006 Ushiyama K white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons): ef- Fujita G fects of resource depletion Higuchi H Amano T Foraging patch selection and departure by Ethology 112(6) 544-553 2006 Ushiyama K non-omniscient foragers: A field example in Fujita G white-fronted geese Higuchi H Amano T Decision-making in group foragers with Ecological Monographs 76(4) 601-616 2006 Ushiyama K incomplete information: Test of individ- Moriguchi S ual-based model in geese Fujita G Higuchi H Ando S Increase in BrAO1 gene expression and al- Molecular Plant Pathology 7(4) 223-234 2006 Tsushima S dehyde oxidase activity during clubroot Tagiri A development in Chinese cabbage (Brassica Kamachi S rapa L.) Konagaya K Hagio T Tabei Y

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Baba K Dioxotungsten 1,2-benzenedithiolate com- Inorganic Chemistry 45(20) 8365-8371 2006 Okamura T plex stabilized by NH…S hydrogen bonds Yamamoto H Yamamoto T Ohama M Ueyama N Borjigidai A Seasonal changes in temperature depend- Annals of Botany 97(4) 549-557 2006 Hikosaka K ence of photosynthetic rate in rice under a Hirose T free-air CO2 enrichment Hasegawa T Okada M Kobayashi K Cheng W Temporal and spatial variations in N2O Nutrient Cycling in Agroeco- 74(2) 147-155 2006 Sudo S emissions from a Chinese cabbage field as a systems Tsuruta H function of type of fertilizer and application Yagi K Hartley A Cho K Protein extraction/solubilization protocol Journal of Plant Biology 49(6) 413-420 2006 Torres N L for monocot and dicot plant gel-based pro- Subramanyam teomics Deepak S A Sardesai N Han O Williams C E Ishii H Iwahashi H Rakwal R Chu H Community structure of ammonia-oxidizing Applied and Enivironmental 73(2) 485-491 2007 Fujii T bacteria under long-term application of Microbiology Morimoto S mineral fertilizer and organic manure in a Lin X sandy loam soil Yagi K Hu J Zhang J Chu H NO, N2O, CH4 and CO2 fluxes in winter Soil Biology and Biochemis- 39(1) 330-339 2007 Hosen Y barley field of Japanese Andisol as affected try Yagi K by N fertilizer management Chung W-H Fungicide sensitivity and phylogenetic rela- Plant Disease 90(4) 506-512 2006 Ishii H tionship of anthracnose fungi isolated from Nishimura K various fruit crops in Japan Fukaya M Yano K Kajitani Y Dabrowska-Zielinska K Modeling of crop and soil parameters using Journal of Water and Land 9 3-20 2005 Inoue Y C and L band of SAR images Development Kowalik W Gruszczynska M Davidson G Single look classification accuracy for po- International Journal of Re- 27(21-22) 5073-5080 2006 Ouchi K larimetric SAR mote Sensing Saito G Ishitsuka N Mohri K Uratsuka S Ding W Nitrous oxide emissions from an intensively Science of the Total Envi- 373(2-3) 501-511 2007 Cai Y cultivated maize–wheat rotation soil in the ronment Cai Z North China Plain Yagi K Zheng X Douangsavanh L Indigenous knowledge on soil classification Journal of Mountain Science 3(3) 247-258 2006 Manivong V of ethnic groups in Luang Prabang Province Polthanee A of the Lao PDR Roengsak Katawatin R Inoue Y Du M Wind tunnel experimental study on the ef- Journal of Ecotechnology Re- 12(1-2) 122-125 2006 Maki T fects of polyethylene windbreak net on search Kawashima S evaporation

61 Appendix

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Eguchi S Nitrate fluxes and nitrate removal in the N management in agrosystems 116 375-377 2006 Sawamoto M shallow aquifer below an Andisol field in relation to the Water Frame- Shiba M work Directive: Proceedings of the 14th N Workshop, Oc- tober 2005, Maastricht, the Netherlands [Schröder J.J. and Neeteson J.J. eds.] (Report, Plant Research International) Engstrom R Modeling evapotranspiration in Arctic coastal Journal of Geophysical Re- 111 G02021, 2006 Hope H plain ecosystems using a modified BI- search doi:10.102 Kwon H OME-BGC model 9/2005JG0 Harazono Y 00102 Mano M Oechel W Fujii K Biodegradation of methylthio-s-triazines by Pest Management Science 63(3) 254-260 2007 Takagi K Rhodococcus sp. strain FJ1117YT, and Hiradate S production of the corresponding methyl- Iwasaki A sulfinyl, methylsulfonyl, and hydroxy ana- Harada N logues Fujii Y Plant-box method: a specific bioassay to Allelopathy, New Concepts 39-56 2007 Pariasca D evaluate allelopathy through root exudates and Methodology [Fujii Y and Shibuya T Hiradate S eds.] Yasuda T Kahn B Waller G R Fukuhara T The wide distribution of endornaviruses, Archives of Virology 151(5) 995-1002 2006 Koga R large double-stranded RNA replicons with Aoki N plasmid-like properties Yuki C Yamamoto N Oyama N Udagawa T Horiuchi H Miyazaki S Higashi Y Takeshita M Ikeda K Arakawa M Matsumoto N Moriyama H Furubayashi A Role of catechol structure in the adsorption Journal of Chemical Ecology 33(2) 239-250 2007 Hiradate S and transformation reactions of L-DOPA in Fujii Y soils Genka H Comparative analysis of argK-tox clusters Journal of Molecular Evolu- 63(3) 401-414 2006 Baba T and their flanking regions in Phaseo- tion Tsuda M lotoxin-producing Pseudomonas syringae Kanaya S pathovars Mori H Yoshida T Noguchi M T Tsuchiya K Sawada H Hamasaki K Development and reproduction of an aphi- Applied Entomology and Zo- 41(2) 233-237 2006 Matsui M dophagous coccinellid, Propylea japonica ology (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), reared on an alternative diet, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs Harada N Transformation of methylthio-s-triazines Soil Biology and Biochemis- 38(9) 2952-2957 2006 Takagi K via sulfur oxidation by strain JUN7, a Ba- try Fujii K cillus cereus species Iwasaki A Harazono Y Temporal and spatial differences of meth- Memoirs of National Institute 59 79-95 2006 Mano M ane flux at arctic tundra in Alaska of Polar Research, Special Miyata A Issue Yoshimoto M Zulueta R C Vourlitis G L Kwon H Oechel W

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Hashidoko Y Design of sphingomonad-detecting probes Bioscience, Biotechnology, 71(2) 343-351 2007 Kitagawa E for a DNA Array, and its application to in- and Biochemistry Iwahashi H vestigate the behavior, distribution, and Purnomo E source of rhizospherous sphingomonas and Hasegawa T other sphingomonads inhabiting an acid Tahara S sulfate soil paddock in Kalimantan, Indone- sia Hayashi K Expansion of damage function for strato- International Journal of Life 11(3) 150-161 2006 Nakagawa A spheric ozone depletion to cover major Cycle Assessment Itsubo N endpoints regarding life cycle impact as- Inaba A sessment Hayashi K Ammonia volatilization from the surface of Soil Science and Plant Nutri- 52(4) 545-555 2006 Nishimura S a Japanese paddy field during rice cultivation Yagi K tion Hayashi K Wet deposition chemistry in Japan: Key IGACtivities Newsletter of 2006(33) 2-6 2006 Noguchi I feature of the Japanese Acid Deposition the International Global At- Ohizumi T Survey from 1983 to 2002 mospheric Chemistry Project Aikawa M Kitamura M Takahashi A Matsuda K Minami Y Hara H Hiradate S Iron dissolution reaction of mugineic acids Allelopathy, New Concepts 109-122 2007 for iron acquisition of graminaceous plants and Methodology [Fujii Y and Hiradate S eds.] Hiradate S Isolation strategies for finding bioactive Natural Products for Pest 927 113-126 2006 compounds: specific activity vs. total activ- Management [Rimando A M ity and Duke S O eds.] (ACS Symposium Series) Hiradate S Adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic Journal of Environmental 36(1) 101-109 2007 Furubayashi A acid by an Andosol Quality Uchida N Fujii Y Hiradate S Characterization of allophanic Andisols by Geoderma 136(3-4) 696-707 2006 Hirai H solid-state 13C, 27Al, and 29Si NMR and by Hashimoto H C stable isotopic ratio, δ13C Hiradate S Isolation and purification of hydrophilic Geoderma 132(1-2) 196-205 2006 Yonezawa T fulvic acids by precipitation Takesako H Hirota M Carbon dioxide dynamics and controls in a Ecosystems 9(4) 673-688 2006 Tang Y deep-water wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Hu Q plateau Hirata S Kato T Mo W Cao G Mariko S Honda M Increase of residential electricity consump- Poster paper at the Interna- http://agec 2006 Shindo J tion in urban and rural China by province tional Association of Agricul- on.lib.umn Okamoto K tural Economists Conference .edu/cgi-bi Kawashima H n/pdf_view .pl?paperid = 22207& ftype=.pdf Hosono T Measurements of N2O and NO emissions Nutrient Cycling in Agroeco- 75(1-3) 115-134 2006 Hosoi N during tomato cultivation using a flow- systems Akiyama H through chamber system in a glasshouse Tsuruta H Iizumi T Impact of global warming on rice produc- SOLA 2 156-159 2006 Hori ME tion in Japan based on five coupled atmos- Yokozawa M phere-ocean GCMs Nakagawa H Hayashi Y Kimura F Ikenaka Y Metabolism of pyrene by aquatic crusta- Aquatic Toxicology 80(2) 158-165 2006 Eun H cean, Daphnia magna Ishizaka M Miyabara Y

63 Appendix

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Inoue Y Estimating dynamics of ecosystem CO2 Journal of Geophysical Re- 111 D24S91, 2006 Olioso A flux and biomass production in agricultural search doi:10.102 field on the basis of synergy between proc- 9/2006JD0 ess models and remotely sensed signatures 07469 Inoue Y Realtionship between light use efficiency International Journal of Re- 27 5249-5254 2006 Penuelas J and photochemical reflectance index as af- mote Sensing fected by soil water content Iqbal Z Plant growth inhibitory activity of Lycoris Weed Biology and Manage- 6(4) 221-227 2006 Nasir H radiata Herb. and the possible involvement ment Hiradate S of lycorine as an allelochemical Fujii Y Ishiguro M Sulfate adsorption and surface precipitation Journal of Colloid and Inter- 300(2) 504-510 2006 Makino T on a volcanic ash soil (allophanic andisol) face Science Hattori Y Itahashi S Methods for estimating the nitrogen load on JARQ 40(2) 131-142 2006 Komada M a catchment scale Takeuchi M Iwasaki A Isolation and characterization of a novel Pest Management Science 63(3) 261-268 2007 Takagi K simazine-degrading ß-proteobacterium and Yoshioka Y detection of genes encoding s-triazine-degrading Fujii K enzymes Kojima Y Harada N Kajiwara H Proteomic analysis of silkworm fat body Journal of Insect Biotechnol- 75(2) 47-56 2006 Itou Y ogy and Sericology Imamaki A Nakamura M Mita K Ishizaka M Kamo T Evidence of cyanamide production in hairy Natural Product Research 20(5) 429-433 2006 Kato K vetch Vicia villosa Hiradate S Nakajima E Fujii Y Hirota M Kamo T Quantification of cyanamide contents in Bioscience, Biotechnology, 70(9) 2310-2312 2006 Sato M herbaceous plants and Biochemistry Kato K Hiradate S Nakajima E Fujii Y Hirota M Kanno T Importance of indigenous arbuscular my- Tropical Grasslands 40 94-101 2006 Saito M corrhiza for growth and phosphorus uptake Ando Y in tropical forage grasses growing on an Macedo M C M acid, infertile soil from the Brazilian Sa- Nakamura T vannas Miranda C H B Kato T Temperature and biomass influences on in- Global Change Biology 12(7) 1285-1298 2006 Tang Y terannual changes in CO2 exchange in an Gu S alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Hirata M Plateau Du M Li Y Zhao X Kawabe M FCD1 encoding protein homologous to cel- Gene 382 100-110 2006 Yoshida T lobiose: Quinone oxidoreductase in Fusa- Teraoka T rium oxysporum Arie T Kawakami T Adsorption and desorption characteristics of Journal of Environmental Sci- 42(1) 1-8 2007 Eun H several herbicides on sediment ence and Health, Part B Ishizaka M Endo S Tamura K Higashi T Kim Y Vertical distributions of persistent organic Chemosphere 67(3) 456-463 2007 Eun H pollutants (POPs) caused from organochlo- Katase T rine pesticides in a sediment core taken Fujiwara H from Ariake bay, Japan

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Kobara Y The applicability of the environmental fate Organohalogen Compounds 68 1123-1126 2006 Nishimori M estimates of current-use-pesticdes using a Wei Y-F multimedia model based on poly-parameter Ishihara S linear energy relationships Yokoyama A Horio T Kobayashi K Paddy rice responses to free-air [CO2] en- Managed ecosystems and CO2: 187 87-104 2006 Okada M richment Case studies, processes, and Kim H Y perspectives [Nosberger J, Lieffering M Long S P, Norby R J, Stitt M, Miura S Hendrey G R, Blum H eds.] Hasegawa T (Ecological Studies) Kuwagata T The characteristics of agro-climatic envi- JARQ 40(3) 251-261 2006 ronments in subtropical islands around Ja- pan Kuwagata T Osmotic water permeability of plasma and Journal of Plant Research 120(2) 193-208 2007 Murai-Hatano M vacuolar membranes in protoplasts II. Theoretical basis Lee M-S Soil respiration of forest ecosystems in Ja- Ecological Research 21(6) 828-839 2006 Mo W H pan and global implications Koizumi H Lou Y CH4 production potential in a paddy soil Soil Science and Plant Nutri- 52(3) 769-773 2006 Mizuno T exposed to atmospheric CO2 enrichment tion Kobayashi K Okada M Hasegawa T Hoque Md M Inubushi K Maeda Y Analysis of sources of oxolinic acid resis- Journal of General Plant Pa- 73(1) 46-52 2007 Horita M tant field strains of Burkholderia glumae thology Shinohara H based on rep-PCR analysis and nucleotide Kiba A sequences of gyrB and rpoD Ohnish K Tsushima S Hikichi Y Maeda Y Phylogenetic study and multiplex PCR-based International Journal of Sys- 56(5) 1031-1038 2006 Shinohara H detection of Burkholderia plantarii, Burkholderia tematic and Evolutionary Mi- Kiba A glumae and Burkholderia gladioli using crobiology Ohnishi K gyrB and rpoD sequences Furuya N Kawamata Y Ezaki T Vandamme P Tsushima S Hikichi Y Maejima Y Remediation of cadmium-contaminated pad- Chemosphere 67(4) 748-754 2007 Makino T dy soils by washing with chemicals: Effect Takano H of soil washing on cadmium uptake by soy- Kamiya T bean Sekiya N Itou T Makino T Remediation of cadmium contamination in Environmental Pollution 144(1) 2-10 2006 Sugahara K paddy soils by washing with chemicals: Sakurai Y Selection of washing chemicals Takano H Kamiya T Sasaki K Itou T Sekiya N Malmgren B A Oscillatory behavior of monsoon rainfall Theoretical and Applied Cli- 89(1-2) 115-125 2007 Hulugalla R over Sri Lanka during the late 19th and 20th matology Lindeberg G centuries and its relationships to SSTs in the Inoue Y Indian Ocean and ENSO Hayashi Y Mikami T Maruyama A Dependence of solar radiation transport in JARQ 41(1) 39-45 2007 Kuwagata T rice canopies on developmental stage Ohba K Maki T

65 Appendix

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Matsui T Stability of rice pollination in the field un- Plant Production Science 10(1) 57-63 2007 Kobayasi K der hot and dry conditions in the Riverina Yoshimoto M region of New South Wales, Australia Hasegawa T Matsuno Y Prospects for multifunctionality of paddy Paddy and Water Environ- 4(4) 189-197 2006 Nakamura K rice cultivation in Japan and other countires ment Masumoto T in monsoon Asia Kato T Sato Y Matsuura T Erwinia isolates from the bacterial shoot Journal of General Plant Pa- 73(1) 53-58 2007 Shinoara H blight of pear in Japan are closely related to thology Inoue Y Erwinia pyrifoliae based on phylogenetic Azegami K analyses of gyrB and rpoD genes Tsushima S Tsukamoto T Mizuno A Mikami M Aeolian dust experiment on climate impact: Global and Planetary Change 52(1-4) 142-172 2006 Shi G An overview of Japan-China joint project Uno I ADEC Yabuki S Iwasaka Y Yasui M Aoki T Tanaka T Kurosaki Y Masuda K Uchiyama A Matsuki A Sakai T Takemi T Nakawo M Seino N Ishizuka M Satake S Fujita K Hara Y Kai K Kanayama S Hayashi M Du M Kanai Y Yamada Y Zhang X Shen Z Zhou H Abe O Nagai T Tsutsumi Y Chiba M Minamikawa K Methane emission from paddy fields and its Microbes and Environments 21(3) 135-147 2006 Sakai N mitigation options on a field scale Yagi K Mishima S Recent trends in nitrogen and phosphate use Soil Science and Plant Nutri- 52(4) 556-563 2006 Taniguchi S and balance on Japanese farmland tion Komada M Mizoguchi M Cadmium transport in volcanic ash soil Journal of ASTM Interna- 3(6) JAI13336 2006 Abe Y during citric acid solution flow tional Yamaguchi N Miyazaki T Mochizuki A Larval cannibalism and intraguild predation Environmental Entomology 35(5) 1298-1303 2006 Naka N between the introduced green lacewing, Hamasaki K Chrysoperla carnea, and the indigenous Mitsunaga T trash-carrying green lacewing, Mallada desjardinsi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), as a case study of potential nontarget effect assessment Moriguchi S The relationship between abdominal profile Ornithological Science 5(2) 193-198 2006 Amano T index and body condition of Greater Ushiyama K White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons Fujita G Higuchi H

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Murai-Hatano M Osmotic water permeability of plasma and Journal of Plant Research 120(2) 175-189 2007 Kuwagata T vacuolar membranes in protoplasts I. High osmotic water permeability in radish (Rap- hanus sativus) root cells as measured by a new method Murakami M Phytoextraction of cadmium by rice (Oryza Environmental Pollution 145(1) 96-103 2007 Ae N sativa L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Ishikawa S Merr.), and maize (Zea mays L.) Naka H Interspecific hybridization between intro- Journal of Applied Entomol- 130(8) 426-428 2006 Haruyama N duced and indigenous green lacewings ogy Ito K (Neurop., Chrysopidae: Chrysoperla) at Mitsunaga T different adult densities Nomura M Mochizuki A Nakanishi Y An oligonucleotide probe for the detection Journal of General Plant Pa- 72(5) 328-333 2006 Adandonon A of Erwinia herbicola and Erwinia ananas thology Okabe I Hoshino Y T Matsumoto N Nishikawa K Polyphosphate metabolism in an acidophilic Plant Science 170(2) 307-313 2006 Machida H alga Chlamydomonas acidophila KT-1 Yamakoshi Y (Chlorophyta) under phosphate stress Ohtomo R Saito K Saito M Tominaga N Nishimori M Simulation of the effects of salting-out in Organohalogen Compounds 68 1151-1154 2006 Wei Y F the meridional transportation of pesticides Kobara Y and POPs by a new fugacity-based multimedia environmental fate model Noguchi M T Evidence of genetic exchange by parasex- Phytopathology 96(7) 746-750 2006 Yasuda N ual recombination and genetic analysis of Fujita Y pathogenicity and mating type of parasex- ual recombinants in rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae Okada H Effects of tillage and fertilizer on nematode Applied Soil Ecology 35(3) 582-598 2007 Harada H communities in a Japanese soybean field Osaki H An endornavirus from a hypovirulent strain Virus Research 118(1-2) 143-149 2006 Nakamura H of the violet root rot fungus, Helico- Sasaki A basidium mompa Matsumoto N Yoshida K Otani T Comparative effects of rootstock and scion Journal of Pesticide Science 31(3) 316-321 2006 Seike N on dieldrin and endrin uptake by grafted cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Otani T Levels of dioxins in rice, wheat, soybean, Journal of the Food Hygienics 47(4) 182-188 2006 Seike N and adzuki bean cultivated in 1999 to 2002 Society of Japan Miwa T in Japan and estimated of their intake (SHOKUHIN EISEIGAKU ZASSHI) Otani T Differential uptake of dieldrin and endrin Soil Science and Plant Nutri- 53(1) 86-94 2007 Seike N from soil by several plant families and Cu- tion Sakata Y curbita genera Ouchi K On the Bragg scattering observed in L-band IEICE Transactions on Com- E89-B(8) 2218-2225 2006 Wang H synthetic aperture radar images of flooded munications Ishitsuka N rice fields Saito G Mohri K Parvez M M Monitoring allelopathic expression and Allelopathy, New Concepts 297-315 2007 Parvez S S functional performance of Tamarind (Tama- and Methodology [Fujii Y and Gemma H rindus indica L.) Hiradate S eds.] Fujii Y Saito K Vacuolar localization of phosphorus in hy- Canadian Journal of Microbi- 52(7) 643-650 2006 Kuga-Uetake Y phae of Phialocephala fortinii, a dark sep- ology Saito M tate fungal root endophyte Peterson R L Sakai H Enhancement of rice canopy carbon gain by New Phytologist 170(2) 321-332 2006 Hasegawa T elevated CO2 is sensitive to growth stage Kobayashi K and leaf nitrogen concentration

67 Appendix

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Shibayama M Radiometric estimation of canopy leaf in- Plant Production Science 9(2) 156-160 2006 clination angles of various crop species using multi-band polarization and reflectance Shibayama M Remote assessment for wheat canopies un- Plant Production Science 9(3) 312-322 2006 Watanabe Y der various cultivation conditions using po- larized reflectance Shimono H Lodging in rice can be alleviated by at- Agriculture, Ecosystems & 118(1-4) 223-230 2007 Okada M mospheric CO2 enrichment Environment Yamakawa Y Nakamura H Kobayashi K Hasegawa T Shiojiri K Role of the lipoxygenase/lyase pathway of Journal of Chemical Ecology 32(5) 969-979 2006 Ozawa R host-food plants in the host searching be- Matsui K havior of two parasitoid species, Cotesia Kishimoto K glomerata and Cotesia plutellae Kugimiya S Takabayashi J Shiojiri K Changing green leaf volatile biosynthesis in Proceedings of National Aca- 103(45) 16672-166 2006 Kishimoto K plants: An approach for improving plant demy of Sciences of the 76 Ozawa R resistance against both herbivores and United States of America Kugimiya S pathogens Urashimo S Arimura G Horiuchi J Nishioka T Matsui K Takabayashi J Shirai Y Flight activity, reproduction, and adult nu- Applied Entomology and Zo- 41(3) 405-414 2006 trition of the beet webworm, Spoladea re- ology curvalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Shirai Y Laboratory evaluation of effects of trans- Applied Entomology and Zo- 41(4) 607-611 2006 genic Bt corn pollen on two non-target her- ology bivorous beetles, Epilachna vigintiocto- punctata (Coccinellida) and Galerucella vittaticollis (Chrysomelidae) Someya N Combined use of the biocontrol bacterium Biocontrol Science 11(2) 75-80 2006 Tsuchiya K Pseudomonas fluorescens strain LRB3W1 Yoshida T with reduced fungicide application for the Noguchi M T control tomato Fusarium wilt Sawada H Someya N Combined application of Pseudomonas Biocontrol Science and Tech- 17(1) 21-31 2007 Tsuchiya K fluorescens strain LRB3W1 with a low nology Yoshida T dosage of benomyl for control of cabbage Noguchi M T yellows caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. Sawada H sp. conglutinans Song W Effect of Bacillus subtilis on granite weath- CATENA 70(3) 275-281 2007 Ogawa N ering: A laboratory experiment Oguchi C T Hatta T Matsukura Y Sprague D Coexistence and exclusion between humans Ecological and Environmental 2(2) 30-43 2006 Iwasaki N and monkeys in Japan: Is either really pos- Anthropology sible? Sprague D Measuring rice paddy persistence spanning International Journal of Geo- 21(1) 83-95 2007 Iwasaki N a century with Japan’s oldest topographic graphic Information Science Takahashi S maps: Georeferencing the Rapid Survey Maps for GIS analysis Suh S A chamber system with automatic opening Ecological Research 21(3) 405-414 2006 Chun Y and closing for continuously measuring soil Chae N respiration based on an open-flow dynamic Kim J method Lim J Yokozawa M Lee M Lee J Tabata J Sex pheromone production and perception Entomologia Experimentalis 122(2) 145-153 2006 Noguchi H in the mating disruption-resistant strain of et Applicata Kainoh Y the smaller tea leafroller moth, Adoxophyes Mochizuki F honmai Sugie H

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Tabata J Heritable pheromone blend variation in a Chemoecology 16(2) 123-128 2006 Hoshizaki S local polulation of the butterbur borer moth Tatsuki S Ostrinia zaguliavi (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Ishikawa Y Takada-Hoshino Y DNA- versus RNA-based denaturing gra- Soil Biology and Biochemistry 39(2) 434-444 2007 Matsumoto N dient gel electrophoresis profiles of a bacterial community during replenishment after soil fumigation Takada-Hoshino Y Changes in fungal community structure in Soil Science and Plant Nutri- 53(1) 40-55 2007 Matsumoto N bulk soil and spinach rhizosphere soil after tion chemical fumigation as revealed by 18S rDNA PCR-DGGE Takagi K Evaluation of transpiration rate of lotus us- Aquatic Botany 85(2) 129-136 2006 Harazono Y ing the stem heat-balance method Noguchi S Miyata A Mano M Komine M Tang X Identication of 137Cs reference sites in Pedosphere 16(4) 468-476 2006 Yang H southeastern China Du M Zhao Q Li R Tao F Climate changes and trends in phenology Agricultural and Forest Me- 138(1-4) 82-92 2006 Yokozawa M and yields of field crops in China, 1981- teorology Xu Y 2000 Hayashi Y Zhang Z Tsushima S Phylogenetic analysis of Xanthomonas al- Journal of Phytopathology 154(11-12) 683-687 2006 Shinohara H bilineans strains from Okinawa, Japan, Nakazato T through a comparison of the gyrB and rpoD Ando S genes in geographically distinct strains Sugisawa T Tabei Y Uegaki R Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, diben- Chemosphere 65(9) 1537-1543 2006 Seike N zofurans, and dioxin-like polychlorinated Otani T biphenyls (dioxins) in rice plants: Possible contaminated pathways Ueyama M Controlling factors on the interannual CO2 Tellus B 58(5) 491-501 2006 Harazono Y budget at a subarctic black spruce forest in Ohtaki E interior Alaska Miyata A Uno H Evaluation of relative density indices for Ecological Research 21(5) 624-632 2006 Kaji K sika deer in eastern Hokkaido, Japan Saitoh T Matsuda H Hirakawa H Yamamura K Tamada K Vu H S Exposure risk assessment and evaluation of Pest Management Science 62(12) 1193-1206 2006 Ishihara S the best management practice for control- Watanabe H ling pesticide runoff from paddy fields. Part I. Paddy watershed monitoring Wada T A labor-saving sampling method for esti- Applied Entomology and Zo- 42(1) 9-14 2007 Urano S mating a normally distributed population by ology Yamamura K using a local median Walker C Molecular phylogeny and new taxa in the Mycological Research 111(2) 137-153 2007 Vestberg M Archaeosporales (Glomeromycota): Am- Demircik F bispora fennica gen. sp. nov., Ambispo- Stockinger H raceae fam. nov., and emendation of Ar- Saito M chaeospora and Archaeosporaceae Sawaki H Nishimura I Schüßler A Watanabe E Application of a commercial immunoassay Food Chemistry 102(3) 745-750 2007 Baba K to the direct determination of insecticide Eun H imidacloprid in fruit juices Miyake S Watanabe E Immunoassay for iprodione: Key estimation Analytica Chimica Acta 583(2) 370-376 2007 Miyake S for residue analysis and method validation with chromatographic technique

69 Appendix

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Watanabe E Immunoassay for acetamiprid detection: Analytical and Bioanalytical 386(5) 1441-1448 2006 Miyake S Application to residue analysis and com- Chemistry Baba K parison with liquid chromatography Eun H Endo S Watanabe E Reliable enzyme immunoassay detection Journal of Chromatography A 1129(2) 273-282 2006 Miyake S for chlorothalonil: Fundamental evaluation Ito S for residue analysis and validation with gas Baba K chromatography Eun H Ishizaka M Endo S Watanabe H Effect of water management practice on Agricultural Water Manage- 88(1-3) 132-140 2007 Nguyen H M pesticide behavior in paddy water ment Komany S Vu H S Thai K P Ishihara S Wei Y-F Strategies for including the paddy field Organohalogen Compounds 68 1155-1158 2006 Nishimori M compartment in multimedia models Kobara Y Akiyama T Yamada K The minute pirate-bug genus Xylocoris Peoceedings of the Entomo- 108(3) 525-533 2006 Yasunaga T Dufour (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Antho- logical Society of Washington Nakatani Y coridae) from rice mills in Thailand Hirowatari T Yamaguchi N Long-term mobility of fallout 90Sr in Science of the Total Envi- 372(2-3) 595-604 2007 Seki K ploughed soil, and 90Sr uptake by wheat ronment Komamura M grain Kurishima K Yamamura K Estimation of the potential speed of range Population Ecology 49(1) 51-62 2007 Moriya S expansion of an introduced species: charac- Tanaka K teristics and applicability of the gamma Shimizu T model Yamanaka T Mating disruption or mass trapping? Nu- Population Ecology 49(1) 75-86 2007 merical simulation analysis of a control strategy for lepidopteran pests Yamanaka T Detecting spatial interactions in the rag- Ecological Research 22(2) 185-196 2007 Tanaka K weed (Ambrosia artemissifolia L.) and the Otuka A ragweed beetle (Ophraella communa LeSage) Bjornstad O N populations Yasuda N Partial mapping of avirlence genes AVR-Pii Canadian Journal of Plant 28(3) 494-498 2006 Noguchi M T and AVR-Pia in the rice blast fungus Mag- Pathology Fujita Y naporthe oryzae Yasuda T A new component of attractive aggregation Applied Entomology and Zo- 42(1) 1-7 2007 Mizutani N pheromone in the bean bug, Riptortus ology Endo N clavatus (Thunberg) (Heteroptera:Alydidae) Fukuda T Matsuyama T Ito K Moriya S Sasaki R Yonemura S Concentrations of carbon gases and oxygen Atmospheric Environment 41(7) 1407-1416 2007 Kawashima S and their emission ratios from the combus- tion of rice hulls in a wind tunnel Yoshida S Production of quorum-sensing-related sig- Canadian Journal of Microbi- 52(5) 411-418 2006 Kinkel L L nal molecules by epiphytic bacteria inhab- ology Shinohara H iting wheat heads Numajiri N Hiradate S Koitabashi M Suyama K Negishi H Tsushima S Yoshida S Inhabitancy and colonization on healthy Journal of Phytopathology 155(1) 38-44 2007 Tsukiboshi T rice plants by Glomerella cingulata Arie T Shinohara H Koitabashi M Tsushima S

Author(s) Title Journal Title Vol.(No.) Pages Year Yoshimatsu S Fungivory of Anatatha lignea, an interest- Entomological Science 9(3) 319-325 2006 Nakata Y ing habit in Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) Yoshimura Y Transgenic oilseed rape along transporta- Environmental Biosafety Re- 5(2) 67-75 2007 Beckie H J tion routes and port of Vancouver in west- search Matsuo K ern Canada Yun M-S An in vitro screening assay to discover Pest Management Science 62(11) 1065-1071 2006 Chen W-J novel inhibitors of 4-coumarate: CoA ligase Deng F Kiyokawa T Mametsuka K Yogo Y

4. Collaborative Research

Collaborative Organization Number Private Enterprise 16 University 3 Other Independent Administrative Institution 2 Prefectural Research Institution 3 Total 24

71 Appendix

Advisory Council

NIAES Advisory Council (2006)

Makoto Kimura Professor, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University

Toyoki Kozai President, Chiba University

Toru Nagata Former Professor, School of Agriculture, Ibaraki University

Shunrokuro Fujiwara Deputy Director General, Kanagawa Agricultural Technology Center

Waki Matsunaga Science Writer

Yoko Yamazaki President, Inakano Heroine Wakuwaku Network

Ryutaro Ohtsuka President, National Institute for Environmental Studies

Takeshi Horie President, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization

Kazuo Suzuki President, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

Toshio Akiyama President, National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research Agency

Hiroyuki Suenaga Head of Environmental Policy Coordination Office, Policy Planning and Evaluation Division, Minister’s Secretariat, MAFF

Yohei Sato President, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences

Budget in the FY 2006 (Million yen)

Operational Budget 3,280 Facilities Maintenance Subsidy 101 Project Research Budget 1,060 Miscellaneous Income 2 Incidental Income 11 Total 4,454

Staff Numbers

250

200

150 Personnel Administration 100 Research support Administrative support 50 Scientific staff 0 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 Fiscal year

Library Holdings

140000 120000 100000 80000 Volumes Periodicals 60000 Reports 40000 Books 20000 0 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 Fiscal year

Appendix

74 75-76 m

NARO NIAS NIAES AFFRC Tsukuba Office Office AFFRC Tsukuba Area C

B 1 Isotope Research Building 2 Isotope Greenhouse No.1 3 Isotope Greenhouse No.2 4 Isotope Greenhouse No.3 5 Isotope Greenhouse No.4 6 Isotope Greenhouse No.5 7 Isotope Greenhouse Control Room 10 Field Management Office, NIAES 11 Sample Shed 12 Oven Pool No.2 13 Crop Drying House No.2 14 Farm Implements Shed No.2 15 Workshop No.2 16 Agro-ecology Workshop No.1 17 Agro-ecology Workshop No.2 18 Rest Room No.2 19 Lavatory No.4 20 Energy Substation No.6 21 Pump House No.2

No. Facilities A-5 Stack Room a re A Nature Conservancy 77 For Ushiku Orchard 85 100 0 100 200 100 0 100 No.2 86 Facility for Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions Environmental Isolated Field Plants of rDNA Environmental Isolated Field (Wood) ield 85 Environmental Isolated Field of rDNA Plants torage 117 Micrometeorological Observatory (for No.112) 78 Gas Governor House No.2 Route 408 Undisturbed Soils Monitoring Field 76 74 sukuba Center Area B Area B Area B 72 122 118 118 71 1 Soil Fertility Lab.2 Soil Physics Lab.3 Rotary Greenhouse4 Ecotron5 Preparation Room (for No.3)6 Plant Nutrient Lab.8 Monitoring Room (for No.103)9 Air Pollution and Fertilizer Greenhouse 37 Monitoring Room 38 45 Short Day Soil Facilities 47 Stock Yard Soil No.7 Stock 50 Yard Remote No.9 Sensing Expt. Facility 49 Soil Stock Yard No.11 48 Soil 46 Stock Yard Soil No.10 Stock Yard No.8 84 Wearhouse (NIAR) 79-2 Drainage Pump 79 House Pump House 81 No.1 Energy Substation No.3 83 Energy Substation No.5 82 Energy Substation No.4 80 Energy Substation No.2 73 For Matsushiro,T 10 Greenhouse No.211 Greenhouse12 Pot Wash13 Soil Stock Yard No.514 Soil Stock Yard No.615 Lysimeter16 Inoculation and Aseptic Greenhouse17 Breeding Cycle Shortening Greenhouse18 Environmental Botany Lab.19 51 Systematic Remote Growth Sensing Control Experimental Facilities F 20 Plant Growth Regulator Screening Greenhouse 5821 59 Micrometeorological Auto-feeding 52 Observatory Ecology Water Workshop Culture Precisely House 54 Controlled Environment Environmental-controlled22 Unit Greenhouse Soil Moisture 62 Controlled Facilities Oven 56 Pool No.1 Climatron23 53 Monitoring Soil Room Stock (for Yard No.22) No.1224 61 Rainfall-free Warehouse Greenhouse 101 Rotary25 60 104 Greenhouse Monitoring Field Nursery Room Management Beds (for Office, No.24) NIAR 5726 Weighing Multi-purpose Lysimeter 63 Greenhouse Thermal Power Drying27 House Post-introduction Nursery 64 Crop28 Drying House Isolated No.1 Nursery 105 Auto-watering29 Facilities Outcrossing Plant Nursery 106 65 Pot Farm Test Implements Yard Shed No.1 87 Bio-plant 108 Research30 Center Systematic Gravel Controled 66 Culture Greenhouse Greenhouse Workshop 110 No.1 67 Framed31 Paddy-Plot Fumigation Unit Room Winter Crop 102 Greenhouse Thermostatic Water Culture 6832 Facilities Water-bath 107 103 Crossing Disinfection Room Herbicide House Hydro-automatic No.1 Evaluation Culture Area Facilities 111 6933 Water Tuber Level Crossing Storage Controlled Room Paddyfield No.2 11234 Groth Chamber Crossing Yard Room No.4 No.3 71 Farm Machinery35 Pool Monitoring Room (for No.110) 70 Fertilizer/Agrochemicals 115 S 36 73 Precisely Herbicide Framed Controlled Nursery Dissolveing Environment Control Plant Unit Room No.1 74 114 113 Rest Room Framed Groth No.1 Upland-plot Chamber Unit Yard No.5 75 Lavatory No.1 76 120 116 Lavatory Water Evapotron No.2 Tower 118 Framed Nursery 77 Lavatory No.3 121 Concrete Floor No.1 122 Concrete Floor No.2 124 Container Test Yard No.2 125 Container Teat Yard No.3 No. Facilities No. Facilities No. Facilities 29-2 Refrigerator Room 72 Compost Shed 119 Water Tank 70 84 Upland Field 69 60 61 Restoring Traditional Rural Landscape (Rural Biotope) Traditional Restoring 62 67 63 68 121 64 66 79 59 65 58 A 117 56 15 83 Area 54 116 116 12 Micrometeorological Observation Field 106 105 57 45 13 Reservoir 14 1 14 11 Wood 20 38 119 119 23 Natural Resources Inventory Museum 24 Rhizobia Lab. 25 Experimental Fertilizer Plant 26 Gatehouse 27 Garage 28 Storage for Flammable Materials 29 Energy Substation No.1 30 Gas Governor House No.1 31 Waste Water Treatment Plant 32 Gas Cylinder Storage No.1 33 Gas Cylinder Storage No.2 34 Gas Cylinder Storage No.3 35 Gas Cylinder Storage No.4 36 Gas Cylinder Storage No.5 37 Microbial Biotechnology Lab. 38 Water Lvele Control Valve House 39 Analytical Facility for Environmental Chemicals 40 Insect Quarantine Facility 78 10 No. Facilities 24 101 Weather Monitoring Station 102 Parking Place for Bicycles 104 22 21 112 112 Environmental Isolated Field (Wood) 108 120 37 Upland Field 11 1 25 8 19 81 9 23 49 110 110 103 18 125 102 75 82 35 Museum 113 113 t 87 30 NIAES Campus Map c 86 46 e 29 s 6 n I 29-2 53 115

Area A d n 26 a 28 48 3 Landscape (Paddy Field in Ravine) 5 80 52 47 " 101 4-2 31 51 32 79-2 50 27 1 33 6 Phytotron (Plant protection) 7 Environmental Chemicals Assessment Lab. 8 Nematode Biology Workshop 9 Greenhouse No.3 1 Main Building 2 Wind Tunnel 3 Extreme Low-temperature Lab. 4 Insectron 5 Herbarium 16 (Bus Stop)

4-5

34 2 10 Soil Sterilization Room 11 Greenhouse No.1 12 Screen House No.1 13 Screen House No.2 14 Screen House No.3 15 Small Animal Rearing House 16 Greenhouse No.2 17 Environmental Chemicals Assessment Lab. 18 Soil Stock Yard No.1 19 Soil Stock Yard No.2 20 Soil Stock Yard No.321 Soil Stock Yard No.422 Germplasm Seed Storage Center 109 Container Test Yard No.1 107 Bridge No.1 108 Bridge No.2 17 5-2 Analytical Lab. for Environmental Studies No. Facilities 4-1 107 Ya-tsu 124 " 36 4-3 Undisturbed Soils Monitoring Field 4-4 Inari-gawa River 107 108 37 25 22 30 101 12 13 24 11 (Bus Stop) 23 1 10 14 8 15 35 7 34 29 20 1 16 17 5-2 9 36 Main Building 6 21 4 5 19 18 Main Gate 38 40 26 3 2 102 10 27 18 33 4 6 28 19 32 7 39 11 5 14 Paddy Field 3 31 2 13 Reservoir

A-5 16 12

15 17

21 109

C a e r A A a e r A

Internet Web Site of NIAES

NIAES has an official Internet Web site written in English (http://www.niaes.affrc.go.jp/index_e.html). This site provides relevant information on the institute and results of its research works, including "The Ecosystem Database", "Asian-Pacific Alien Species Database (APASD)", "Index of parasitic and symbiotic microbes on wild plants in Japan", "microForce: Microorganisms Database", "Type Specimens in the NIAES Insect Museum".

URL http://www.niaes.affrc.go.jp/index_e.html

Map of NIAES Official Site Japanese Top page English Top page Welcoming Address from President Outline of NIAES Researchers Publications Bulletin of the NIAES Miscellaneous Publication of the NIAES NIAES Annual Report NIAES Series International Symposia and Workshops Database and Data Map Distribution Maps of Net Primary Productivity of Natural Vegetation and Related Climatic Resources Ecosystem Database Asian-Pacific Alien Species Database (APASD) Index of Parasitic and Symbiotic Microbes on Wild Plants in Japan microForce, the microorganisms data house An Illustrated Key to the Hymenopterous Parasitoids of Liriomyza trifolii in Japan An Illustrated Key to Japanese Species of the Tribe Pilophorini (Heteroptera, Miridae) A Check List of Japanese Cinara Curtis (Homoptera: Aphididae) with Keys to the Species NIAES Type Specimens Natural Resources Inventory Center Job Opportunities for Research Scientists Links to Other Sites Site Map Updates

77 Appendix

Meteorological Information

2000 20 1800 Annual Precipitation Mean Air Temperature 1600 1400 15 1200 1000 800 10 600 Temperature(℃) Precipitation(mm) 400 200 0 5 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 Year

78 NIAES Annual Report 2007

Published by National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan Tel. (Japan +81) 29-838-8180 Fax. (Japan +81) 29-838-8199 ISSN 1342-6648 NIAES Annual Report NIAES Annual NIAES

Annual Report 2007 2007

Conserve the environment by listening to wind, observing soil National Institutefor Agro-Environmental Sciences and thinking of our future

National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences Japan