Institute of Vegetable and Floriculture Science, NARO

The Materials Development Group is developing vegetable materials rich in functional substances and resistant to insect pests and diseases, and methods of controlling flower aging and scent emission. In breeding vegetables as functional foods, we aim to identify the desirable substances by comprehensively analyzing vegetables. We also identify vegetables that are rich in functional substances with suitable evidence and promote foods with functional claims. In breeding vegetables resistant to disease, we aim to develop a method for conferring resistance to cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus in melon, and to breed resistant materials. We are also clarifying the pathogenic mechanism of tomato chlorosis disease and developing breeding materials with resistance. In the breeding of vegetables resistant to insect pests, we are clarifying the factors of resistance to the stone leek leafminer Liriomyza chinensis (Kato), and developing a method for evaluating resistance in order to develop breeding materials.
To control flower aging, we aim to develop new technologies for prolonging the vase/shelf life of cut and potted flowers by elucidating the mechanism of flower aging. Through sophisticated analysis of the scent compounds, we aim to clarify the emission mechanism of vegetable and flower scent. We will utilize the results for regulating the intensity of vegetable and flower scent and controlling their scent release, and thus create new fragrant plants.