On May 3, 2024, the University of Zurich Japanese Researchers Community Seminar was held at the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich. The seminar featured a lecture by Prof. Keiko Sakakibara titled "Genetic Foundations Supporting the Traits that Facilitate the Flourishing of Terrestrial Plants. 陸上植物の繁栄をもたらした特徴を支える遺伝子基盤”

KEPLR has been hosting seminars aimed at fostering connections among participants from participating laboratories. The 8th seminar was organized by KudohG and took place at Kyoto University (Center for Ecological Research).

The seminar was attended by 25 members of KEPLR, including those from KochiG, NasudaG, and SatoG.

A tour of the experimental fields at the Center for Ecological Research was conducted.

During the facility tour, there was an introduction to the center's facilities and equipment.

Date: February 29, 2024
Time: 14:00 -
Venue: Kyoto University, Center for Ecological Research (https://www.ecology.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index.html)
Organizers: Tomomi Kato, Genki Yumoto, Naofumi Yoshida (Kudoh Lab / Honjo Lab)
Online Support: Yuichiro Kanzaki (Information Processing Office)
Schedule:
- 14:00 - 14:20: Hiroshi Kudoh - Research Introduction
- 14:20 - 14:55: Naoshfumi Yoshida - The effect of Turnip Mosaic Virus infection on cold response of Arabidopsis halleri: changes in photoprotection induction rate
- 14:55 - 15:00: Break
- 15:00 - 15:45: Genki Yumoto- Inhibitory Leaf Senescence in Arabidopsis under Short Days and Efficient Research Life in the UK under Short Days
- 15:45 - 16:00: General Discussion
- 16:00 -: Lab & Field Tour

At KEPLR, seminars are held targeting participating research laboratories, with the aim of fostering connections among participants. The 7th seminar was organized by TsuchimatsuG and took place at the University of Tokyo.

Details:
Date and Time: January 22, 2024, from 16:00
Location: Room 223, Building 2, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo

From 16:00: Seminar
Tsuchimatsu (PI): Overview of the research undertaken at the Plant Evolutionary Ecology Laboratory (https://plantecoevo-utokyo.jp/).
Suda (M1): Discussion on the demography and local adaptation of Hakusan Hatatazao through population genomics analysis.
From 17:30: Tour of the Plant Cultivation Room

The 6th KEPLR Seminar Series, organized by Prof. Nasuda, was held at Kyoto University.Over 20 participants, including Prof. Kohchi of the Kohchi Group, attended the event.

Participants visited the Kyoto University Farm and the indoor cultivation room for wheat plants at the Faculty of Agriculture. The seminar was held at the 'Former Head Office of Forest Research Station' (a building constructed in 1931 and registered as a tangible cultural property of the country in 1998). Here, research presentations were made by members of the Nasuda group, followed by discussions among the participants.

Program:
Date and Time: December 22, 2023, from 14:00
Location: Conference Room, Former Head Office of Forest Research Station, North Campus, Yoshida Campus, Kyoto University
[https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/access/north-campus-map]

14:00: Tour of the Kyoto University Farm and the indoor cultivation room for wheat plants (Koichi Yamamori:PD, Kanata Senoo:B4)
15:30 onwards:
[Introduction] Our Goals: Developing an Analytical Group Utilizing Diversity, Fertility as a Result of Reproduction, Yield, Gametogenesis, etc. (Shuhei Nasuda:Professor)
[Topic 1] Predicting Yield and Analyzing Pollen Counts (Haruki Kojima:M1)
[Topic 2] RNAseq Analysis of Anthers and Pollen (Koichi Yamamori:PD)
[Topic 3] Imaging Approaches to the Mechanism of Action of Gametocidal Genes (Kazuki Murata:Assistant professor)

The kick-off meeting in Europe was organized by Vice-Director Professor Ueli Grossniklaus. It took place on November 21, 2023, at the University of Zurich in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, with 69 attendees.

At the symposium, lectures were given by KEPLR members. During the poster session, discussions took place between the presenters, who are young researchers, and other researchers.