Main

The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science and Faculty of Science, Kobe University, Professor Mimura Tetsuro

Collaboration between botanists and soil scientists towards the examination of radiation exposure caused by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station disaster on the environments of paddy fields and rice plants, and discussion of future measures for reductions

Research grant

Project Description

Soil scientists and botanists collaborate regarding the proliferation of radioactive material on the environment due to damage caused by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. (1) Selection of a rice plant variety that can be cultivated in soil with radioactive accumulation, inspection of rice paddy soil purification of rice plant varieties with high levels of radioactive material absorption capacity, and the collection of data by simultaneous measurement of soil and microorganisms for the recovery of rice paddy environments. (2) Progress with development of farming techniques using the general cultivation of rice plant varieties simultaneously, and collect and make available to the public data which contributes to the activities towards reducing radioactive material in the environment.

Fields
Marine resources/foodPreservation of surface soil and forestsPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2011 Research Grants
Grant term
3 years and 6 months
April 2011 - September 2014
Grant amount
12,430,800 yen
Activity region
Iwaki, Motomiya, and Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
By planting as many diverse varieties as possible separated by areas, we plan to find out whether the amount of radioactive material changes to more or less

Overview of the Organization

Professor Mimura Tetsuro
Representative
Professor Mimura Tetsuro
Profile
Specialist field
Plant cell physiology
Affiliated academic societies
The Botanical Society of Japan, The Japan Society of Plant Physiologists
Background
In 1984, acquired a Doctorate from the University of Tokyo. Held an assistant position between 1984 and 1990 University of Tokyo's School of Science. From 1990 to 1994, took the post of Assistant Professor at University of Hyogo's Himeji Institute of Technology. Worked as an Associate Professor and Professor between 1994 and 2000 at Hitotsubashi University, Graduate School of Commerce and Management. In 2000, took the position of Lecturer at 2000 at the Faculty of Science, Nara Women's University, and then in 2004, until present has been Professor and Researcher at Kobe University's Graduate School of Science.
Collaborating researchers
Fukuda Hiro, Professor, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo University; Toru Fujiwara, Professor, School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Tokyo University, and ten more
Research record
Up until now, Professor Mimura has done research on the transportation of ions in plant cells using algae and plant materials, and is continuing research on the absorption and distribution of ions within living organisms. The participation in this project was in response to the current environmental exposure to radiation in Fukushima Prefecture, and aims to use phytoremediation to make effective use of the the transportation of ions in plants.
  • (1) "Analysis of metabolism control mechanisms, transportation of phosphoric acid and function control mechanism of H+pump in plants," Mimura (1999) Regulation of phosphate transport and homeostasis in plant cells. International Review of Cytology 191:149-200.
  • (2) "Analysis of the molecular basis of vacuole function which is important for inorganic ion metabolism," Mimura et al. (2008) Proteome analysis of vacuolar membrane. In "Plant Genetic Engineering vol. 9:Plant membrane and vacuolar transporters", Ed. by Jaiwal PK. pp. 301-343, CAB Internatonal