Latest news with #OkayamaUniversity
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make remarkable discovery after studying common crop soil: 'Opens up new possibilities'
Silicon (Si) is one of Earth's most abundant elements and has been described as only quasi-essential for most land plants, but studies have shown that rice, wheat, and other grasses rely on it to defend against environmental stressors. A Japanese research team led by Dr. Naoki Yamaji of the Institute of Plant Science and Resources at Okayama University has uncovered a key signaling protein called Shoot-Silicon-Signal (SSS) that works to regulate the intake and distribution of this valuable element, the university wrote in a post on "Optimization of Si makes more stress-tolerant crops. It contributes to the productivity and sustainability of agriculture," said Yamaji, per the report. These plants stock up on silicon to bolster their immune system, and its presence fosters healthy growth. Biotic factors like fungal infections and climate-related stressors such as drought, salinity, and extreme heat or cold can be problematic for their growth, and plants rely on Si to improve their defenses. A 51-82% reduction in crop productivity across the globe in recent years can be attributed to these climate-driven stress factors, and these insights into silicon's role may help fight food insecurity. As the summary explained, SSS is a homolog of florigen, which is a hormone responsible for flowering in plants. While that handles plant development, SSS is hard at work regulating silicon. If the element is abundant in the soil, its levels in the plant drop and the plant adjusts accordingly. Using the Shoot-Silicon-Signal as a marker, scientists can monitor a plant's requirements and optimize Si fertilization to produce more resilient crops that are better suited to handle environmental stresses. "This discovery opens up new possibilities for improving Si management in crops, particularly in regions where Si availability in soil is lowered by cultivation," Yamaji further detailed. "By better understanding how plants regulate Si, we can design more efficient fertilization strategies and enhance crop resilience globally." Similar research has revealed the inner workings of how seedlings regulate growth as they search for sunlight, which could help crops like corn and soybeans grow more efficiently. Which of these factors would be your main motivation for installing solar panels? Energy independence Lower power bills Helping the planet No chance I ever go solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Other studies have pinpointed a hormone that could trigger deeper root growth for crops in arid regions that have difficulty thriving. Rice, wheat, and other similar crops could benefit greatly from this insight into silicon's role in their survival, as those staples serve as the foundation of many diets across the globe. In India, these crops provide around 50% of the population's daily energy requirements. "Si is not just an element that plants accumulate, it's an adaptive tool that helps them thrive and survive. By harnessing the power of Si, we can help ensure a more sustainable and productive agricultural future," Yamaji said. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Japan Times
06-02-2025
- Science
- Japan Times
Japanese rice fish detect UV rays with pituitary gland
Japanese rice fish detect ultraviolet rays from sunlight directly with the pituitary gland and turn their bodies black for protection, a team has found. The findings by the team, including University of Tokyo associate professor Shinji Kanda and Okayama University assistant professor Keita Sato, were published in the U.S. journal Science recently. Recent research had found that vertebrates including fish have receptor proteins that can detect light in cells other than those in their eyes, but their purpose was unknown. The team suspects that animals with almost translucent bodies may have yet more systems to detect light directly. The surface of Japanese rice fish's body has pigment cells that receive a hormone from cells in the pituitary gland and synthesize melanin. Cells in the gland contain the so-called Opn5m receptor protein. The team succeeded in observing the release of melanocyte-secreting hormone from Opn5m by shining light with the same wavelength as ultraviolet A on Japanese rice fish.
Japan Times
28-01-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
PFAS blood test results in Okayama Prefecture town exceed U.S. standards
Kibichuo, Okayama Pref. – PFAS concentrations in blood samples from 87.4% of those tested in a town in Okayama Prefecture exceeded a U.S. standard for the potentially carcinogenic chemicals. The Kibichuo town government announced the results of its first blood tests on Tuesday, which were conducted at public expense last year, after PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were detected at a water purification plant in the town. "Honestly speaking, it is higher than I expected," Mayor Masanori Yamamoto said at a news conference, calling on the national government to set guidelines regarding the so-called forever chemicals. The government currently does not have standards on PFAS concentrations in blood. The 87.4% showed levels of seven PFAS substances, including PFOS and PFOA, totaling 20 nanograms or more per milliliter of blood. A U.S. academic institution has said that health risks increase when concentrations top the threshold. A total of 709 people, age 2 to 102, took blood tests between November and December last year in the town of roughly 10,000 inhabitants. The highest recorded level of PFOA stood at 718.8 nanograms per milliliter of blood, while the average amounts of the seven PFAS substances totaled 151.5 nanograms, both significantly higher than the U.S. health standard. Okayama University Professor Takashi Yorifuji, who analyzed the test results, urged residents to "receive regular health checks and visit medical institutions if there are any symptoms." The town is conducting additional tests for willing residents and plans to conduct a fresh round of tests in five years. In October 2023, PFAS levels of up to 28 times the provisional national standard of 50 nanograms per liter of water were detected at a water purification plant in the town. The chemicals are believed to have originated from used activated carbon that was left without being incinerated.
