We conduct breeding of forage maize, grasses, and legumes, as well as the development of smart breeding evaluation methods.
Forage Maize
We develop silage and grain maize varieties adapted to cold regions. Forage maize requires high yield, disease resistance, and lodging resistance. In particular, we aim to develop varieties with enhanced resistance to Gibberella ear rot and improved tolerance to waterlogging.
Grasses
We breed orchardgrass, ryegrasses, and festulolium varieties. Our goal is to ensure stable production and improved quality of self-supplied forage by enhancing environmental adaptability (e.g., winter hardiness), disease resistance, and forage quality, while also developing varieties resilient to climate change.
Legumes
We develop alfalfa and red clover varieties for cold regions. To reduce nitrogen fertilizer input and improve forage quality through mixed cropping with grasses, we aim to develop varieties with superior compatibility for mixed sowing and disease resistance.
Smart Breeding Methods
Conventional variety evaluation often relies on subjective and labor-intensive methods, highlighting the need for objective and efficient approaches. Therefore, we are developing new evaluation methods using technologies such as drone-based aerial imaging, deep learning, and three-dimensional analysis.
