Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, NARO

Our research unit aims to enhance vegetable production in warm regions through the development of new varieties such as strawberries and asparagus.
In recent years, vegetable production in the Kyushu-Okinawa region has been increasingly affected by global warming. These conditions have led to challenges such as fluctuating yields, reduced product quality, and the increased incidence of plant diseases. At the same time, the agricultural sector is facing labor shortages due to a declining workforce, highlighting the need for labor-saving technologies and environmentally sustainable production systems.
Under these circumstances, there is a strong demand for the development of vegetable varieties that are well adapted to warm climates and capable of producing higher and more stable yields.
To address these needs, the Vegetable Breeding Group is engaged in the following initiatives:

• Developing strawberry varieties and breeding lines with stable flower bud formation to ensure consistent yields from late autumn to early winter (November-December)
• Developing strawberry varieties and breeding lines suitable for a wide range of applications, including processing purposes.
• Developing all-male asparagus varieties and breeding lines with resistance to stem blight

Through the development of these new varieties, we aim to contribute to more stable and productive vegetable production systems in warm regions.