The MAFF Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council in collaboration with the agricultural technology association selects 10 research achievements every year with high-impact and significant contribution to society. The high-impact research achievements are selected from research outputs of national research institutes, public research institutes, universities and private enterprises published in newspapers. Five researches from NARO were among the ten research achievements selected for 2025.
Development of control technology for alligator weed effective down to below-ground parts
- Preventing its spread and reducing weed damage -
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) is a perennial weed classified as an invasive alien species and has invaded and established itself in rivers, waterways, and rice paddies. In recent years, it has become a problem in rice cultivation in regions south of Tohoku, and early control in infested rice fields and measures to prevent its further spread are required.
NARO, in collaboration with the Chiba Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center and the Kanagawa Prefectural Agriculture Technology Center, identified rice herbicides effective against alligator weed and their optimal application timing, and developed a control technology based on a systematic combination of effective herbicides. This achievement is expected to reduce weed damage caused by alligator weed and prevent its spread.
Related Press Release
https://www.naro.go.jp/english/topics/laboratory/naro/168658.html
Fruit tree suitability prediction maps for the era of climate change!
- Contributing to sustainable fruit tree production -
Fruit trees generally have limited adaptability to climate conditions, resulting in strong regional characteristics in major production areas, such as apples in northern Japan and satsuma mandarins in the warm southwestern regions. As global warming progresses, however, current production areas may become unsuitable for cultivation, posing a potentially serious challenge.
To address this issue, NARO has developed climate-adapted suitability prediction maps for fruit tree cultivation. Based on multiple scenarios with differing levels of greenhouse gas emissions, these maps provide detailed predictions of suitable cultivation areas for both the middle and the end of this century at a 1 km grid resolution. The maps can be used to support the development of long-term cultivation plans adapted to climate change.
Related Press Release
https://www.naro.go.jp/english/topics/laboratory/fruit/169907.html
Red fruit bathed in sunshine: introducing the new grape variety "Sunny Heart"
- A heart-shaped berry that delivers a whole new tasting experience -
In recent years, the outstanding popularity of Shine Muscat—a table grape known for its excellent flavor and edible skin—has driven growing demand for new varieties that can also be eaten skin-on, while offering appearances and taste profiles distinct from Shine Muscat. In response to this trend, NARO has developed Sunny Heart, a new red-skinned grape variety with an edible skin. It is characterized by a high sugar content of around 20 percent, a crisp, easy-to-bite texture, and a well-balanced, pleasing flavor. With its distinctive color and shape—clearly different from major varieties such as Shine Muscat and Kyoho—Sunny Heart is expected to stimulate new consumer demand and gain wide acceptance in the market.
AI-based diagnosis of water status in peach trees using video images
- Easy and accurate irrigation timing decisions, even for beginners -
In peach production, water stress in trees affects fruit size and sugar content, making proper water management essential for producing high-quality fruit. Measuring water stress in trees requires expensive specialized equipment and labor-intensive procedures, such as cutting and sampling leaves.
NARO has developed a technology that uses AI to easily diagnose the water status of peach trees by analyzing video footage captured with a smartphone. This method does not require costly equipment or leaf sampling, and the quantified water stress information enables even beginners to determine appropriate irrigation timing accurately. In the future, this technology can be expanded to automated diagnosis and irrigation using robots.
Related Press Release
https://www.naro.go.jp/english/topics/laboratory/fruit/170789.html
Reducing the greenhouse gas N2O through the soybean-rhizobium symbiotic system
- The developed symbiotic system reduced N2O emissions by 74% -
Nitrous oxide (N2O), which contributes to global warming, is emitted from farmland, and methods to suppress its release are being explored worldwide. A joint research group from NARO, Tohoku University, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, and RIKEN has developed a technology that enables soybeans to preferentially establish symbiosis with rhizobia exhibiting high N2O-reducing capacity, achieving a 74% reduction in N2O emissions from soybean fields. This technology is expected to contribute to mitigating global warming.
Related Press Release
https://www.naro.go.jp/english/topics/laboratory/nias/173119.html
